male worker kneeling and laying tile

Tilesetters

(NOC 73101)
Annual Earnings
$56,311
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
College Diploma or Apprenticeship, less than 2 years
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
570

Career Overview

Tilesetters:

  • Cover interior and exterior walls, floors and ceilings with ceramic, marble and quarry tile, mosaics or terrazzo
  • Work for construction companies and masonry contractors
  • May be self-employed

 

Duties

Tilesetters perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Prepare, measure and mark surface to be covered
  • Build underbeds and install anchor bolts, wires and brackets
  • Mix, apply and spread mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives using hand trowel
  • Set tiles in position and apply pressure to affix tiles to base
  • Align and straighten tile using levels, squares and straightedges
  • Cut and fit tiles around obstacles and openings using hand and power cutting tools
  • Pack grout into joints between tiles and remove excess grout
  • Install tile strips
  • Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural and floor designs
  • Mix, lay and polish terra surfaces
  • Cut, polish and install marble and granite
  • Remove and replace cracked or damaged tiles
  • May prepare cost estimates and orders

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$56,311

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$40.00/hr
Median$27.00/hr
Low$20.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

1,765

% Employed Full Time

42%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in an indoor environment where temperatures may vary.
  • Work also takes place outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions.
  • Working with equipment, machinery or power/hand tools may be a source of injury.
  • Workers may be exposed to chemicals that could pose health risks.
  • Airborne particles, such as sand and dust, may be present in the workplace.

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

In provinces where there is no apprenticeship, this trade is usually learned through several years of on-the-job training.

Red Seal trade certification allows for movement between provinces.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Apprentice tilesetter
Ceramic tile installer
Marble setter
Terrazzo polisher
Terrazzo worker
Tile installer
Tilesetter

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a three- or four-year apprenticeship program, or
    • A combination of over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in tilesetting is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • Trade certification for tilesetters is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified tilesetters upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

For more information please see SkilledTradesBC's website at https://skilledtradesbc.ca.

Tilesetters who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Trades training resources

Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

51%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

50%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

48%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

47%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

46%
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

46%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

45%
Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

45%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

45%
Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

42%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

1,765
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 15 0.9%
Kootenay 20 1.1%
Mainland/Southwest 1,205 68.5%
North Coast and Nechako 0 0.0%
Northeast 0 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 250 14.2%
Vancouver Island/Coast 260 14.8%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

570
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 10 0.4%
Kootenay Not available Not available
Mainland/Southwest 360 0.4%
North Coast and Nechako Not available Not available
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 120 1.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 80 0.5%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Construction560
Manufacturing0
Agriculture And Fishing0
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources