Career comparison
Floor Layer vs. Tile Setter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Floor layers earn more at the median ($56,460 vs. $55,690), while floor layers usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Floor layers install vinyl, laminate, wood and resilient floors. 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
| Floor Layer | Tile Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $56,460 ($27.15/hr) | $55,690 ($26.77/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $37,600 – $96,700 | $37,140 – $86,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +9.0% (much faster than average) | +9.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 2,200 | 3,300 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | A few months on the job | 1–3 years of training |
| Key credential | CFI certification | CTI |
| Work setting | Floor layers work in homes and commercial buildings.. | Tile setters work in homes, offices, hotels and hospitals.. |
What each job does
Floor Layer
- Prep subfloors
- Test moisture
- Level floors
- Install vinyl and laminate
- Cut and fit pieces
Tile Setter
- Prep surfaces
- Waterproof showers
- Lay out patterns
- Cut tile
- Set tile
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, in-demand, 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 floor layer if…
- I like precise work
- I like visible results
- 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 Floor Layer fit quiz and the Tile Setter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, floor layer or tile setter?
Floor Layers earn more at the median: $56,460 versus $55,690 for tile setters, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Floor Layers typically train faster (A few months on the job) 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 +9.0% for floor layers.