What apprenticeships are available for tile setters in California?

In California, registered apprenticeships are administered through the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Tile Setter in California (2026)

Q: How much do tile setters earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), tile setters in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,880. Employment concentration in California is about 1.96 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for tile setters in California?

California currently employs approximately 8,250 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 10.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles earn a median annual wage of $61,210 ($29.43/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,330 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 8.4% above the national median of $56,460 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,210 ($29.43/hr)
25th percentile: $48,080 per year
75th percentile: $88,690 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $120,750 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,080 per year
Workers employed in California: 4,330
Versus national median: 8.4% above the U.S. median of $56,460
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.56 - this occupation is more concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

California employs about 8,250 tile setters earning a median $58,880 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most tile setters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in California.

Compare Tile Setter Schools in California

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	College of Southern Nevada	46.6	$4,358 in-state / $13,024 out-of-state	$51,080	19%	Yes*	246 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

California employs approximately 8,250 tile setters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,880 ¹. The state’s concentration of tile setter jobs is 1.96x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, tile setter employment is projected to grow 10.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 4,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Tile Setter in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (California): $58,880 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Tile Setter in California

How to become a Tile Setter in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for tile setters in California.

How long does it take? Most paths into the tile setter field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do tile setters earn in California? The median annual wage for tile setters in California is $58,880 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,990 and experienced professionals can earn $99,830 or more ¹.

How to Become a Tile Setter in California

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most California training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in California that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to tile setters in California before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Tile Setter Apprenticeship Information in California

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. California’s apprenticeship program is administered by the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Fresno Region
Phone: (559) 445-5431
Email: [email protected]

Tile Setter Wages by Metro Area in California

Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles Wages by Metro Area in California

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	3,520	$58,788	$66,091	$42,438	$105,784
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	1,620	$68,334	$74,395	$45,623	$118,438
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	1,380	$55,258	$61,736	$38,365	$108,251
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	1,360	$57,548	$62,031	$39,583	$94,614
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	1,100	$58,426	$63,192	$39,216	$94,163
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	770	$81,435	$82,080	$48,505	$113,517
Fresno	310	$53,408	$58,557	$37,865	$85,299
Stockton-Lodi	300	$63,226	$65,812	$41,192	$96,798
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	280	$53,670	$57,948	$40,565	$75,232
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	280	$58,070	$66,300	$45,910	$115,140
Modesto	180	$49,703	$55,940	$36,480	$76,923
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	160	$58,680	$59,450	$38,260	$78,760
Salinas	140	$58,430	$67,340	$39,140	$109,430
Visalia	110	$71,280	$73,750	$43,470	$102,010
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles	90	$52,640	$57,310	$38,270	$74,900
Bakersfield-Delano	50	$55,690	$61,670	$39,360	$126,390
Santa Cruz-Watsonville	50	$59,770	$71,280	$45,490	$110,300
Vallejo	40	$56,020	$67,390	$43,700	$125,870
Redding	40	$49,350	$56,480	$39,720	$75,650
Chico	30	$47,940	$52,760	$37,830	$64,480

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for tile setters in California? California currently employs approximately 8,250 tile setters ¹. Nationally, tile setter employment is projected to grow 10.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California. You can also contact the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do tile setters earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for tile setters in California is $58,880, which is $6,640 above the national median of $52,240 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

Best Trade Schools in California (2026)

Explore More Trades in California

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)