Career comparison
Carpet Installer vs. Tile Setter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Tile setters earn more at the median ($55,690 vs. $50,340), while carpet installers usually get to work faster (A few weeks to months of training). Carpet installers install carpet in homes and businesses. Tile setters install tile and stone on floors, walls, showers and backsplashes.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Carpet Installer | Tile Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $50,340 ($24.20/hr) | $55,690 ($26.77/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,450 – $82,140 | $37,140 – $86,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -16.4% (a projected decline) | +9.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 3,300 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | A few weeks to months | 1–3 years of training |
| Key credential | CFI certification | CTI |
| Work setting | Installers work in homes, offices and commercial buildings.. | Tile setters work in homes, offices, hotels and hospitals.. |
What each job does
Carpet Installer
- Measure rooms
- Remove old flooring
- Install tack strip
- Lay pad
- Cut and seam carpet
Tile Setter
- Prep surfaces
- Waterproof showers
- Lay out patterns
- Cut tile
- Set tile
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and working independently. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose carpet installer if…
- I like hands-on work
- I’m precise
- I don’t mind kneeling
Choose tile setter if…
- I like precise work
- I have an eye for design
- I’m patient
Still torn? Take the Carpet Installer fit quiz and the Tile Setter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, carpet installer or tile setter?
Tile Setters earn more at the median: $55,690 versus $50,340 for carpet installers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Carpet Installers typically train faster (A few weeks to months) than tile setters (1–3 years of training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects tile setters to grow +9.8% from 2025–35, compared with -16.4% for carpet installers.