Career comparison
Mason Helper 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. $47,550), while mason helpers usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Mason helpers mix mortar and supply bricklayers and stonemasons on the job. 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
| Mason Helper | Tile Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,550 ($22.86/hr) | $55,690 ($26.77/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,230 – $70,080 | $37,140 – $86,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -11.7% (a projected decline) | +9.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 3,300 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | 1–3 years of training |
| Key credential | Scaffold training | CTI |
| Work setting | Helpers work outdoors on masonry jobs.. | Tile setters work in homes, offices, hotels and hospitals.. |
What each job does
Mason Helper
- Mix mortar
- Carry brick and block
- Stock scaffolds
- Build scaffolds
- Clean walls
Tile Setter
- Prep surfaces
- Waterproof showers
- Lay out patterns
- Cut tile
- Set tile
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work and physical work. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose mason helper if…
- I want to learn masonry
- I’m strong
- I don’t mind weather
Choose tile setter if…
- I like precise work
- I have an eye for design
- I’m patient
Still torn? Take the Mason Helper fit quiz and the Tile Setter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, mason helper or tile setter?
Tile Setters earn more at the median: $55,690 versus $47,550 for mason helpers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Mason Helpers typically train faster (A few weeks 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 -11.7% for mason helpers.