Tilers fix tiles to walls and floors in kitchens, bathrooms, shops and restaurants, using materials like ceramics, slate, stone and marble.


Typical Salary

£21,000 – £38,000

per year

Working Hours

40–45

hours per week

Career Area

Roofers, roof tilers and slaters

View related courses

Day-to-day tasks

As a wall and floor tiler, you'll:

  • work out the amount of materials needed for a job
  • follow design plans to match the layout of tile patterns
  • cut tiles to the correct shape and size by hand or with power tools
  • prepare surfaces by levelling off with plaster, sand or cement
  • fix tiles into place and apply grouting and sealants
  • tidy up work areas and dispose of old materials safely

Skills needed

  • knowledge of building and construction
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • knowledge of maths
  • the ability to work well with others
  • customer service skills
  • design skills and knowledge
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Entry requirements

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

Career progression

With experience and extra training, you could move into:

  • site management
  • estimating
  • contract management
  • heritage work

You could also train apprentices in further education or set up your own business.