Tiler
Tilers measure, cut and fix tiles to floors, walls and other surfaces, and much of the skill sits in the preparation that keeps the finish level and watertight.
- Median salary*
- $61,400
3.9%vs last year, before tax
- People employed
- 21,800
0.5%vs last year
- Projected growth
- +6.4%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Low
- automation risk
- Average hours
- 42/wk
+2h vs all jobs
- Shortage status
- In shortage
national
Tilers work on new builds, renovations and commercial fit-outs, laying ceramic, porcelain, stone and glass tiles in bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, balconies and shopfronts. The job is as much about what goes under the tile as the tile itself, because setting out, levelling and waterproofing have to be right or the finished surface leaks, lifts or cracks later. Most tilers work as subcontractors moving between sites, pricing jobs by the square metre rather than staying on one builder's books.
How much do tilers earn?
The median full-time salary for a tiler is $61,400 per annum, before tax, up $12,800 since 2018.
How a tiler is paid shapes the numbers more than the trade does: employees are covered by the building and construction award, with site allowances and overtime on top, while subcontractors quote per square metre and carry their own tools, insurance and super. The rate also depends on the tile and the job, because large-format porcelain and natural stone take longer to lay than a standard ceramic splashback, and a single-room repair carries more setting-up time per square metre than a whole floor. Licensing requirements in some states add a layer of cost and compliance for anyone working for themselves.
What does a tiler do day to day?
The list below is what fills most weeks; the exact mix shifts with seniority and whatever stage the current work is at.
- Setting out the layout before a single tile goes down, working from a centre line or a fixed reference so the cuts at the edges finish even
- Cutting tiles around pipes, drains, power points and awkward corners, using a wet saw, grinder or hand cutter depending on the material
- Spreading adhesive and bedding tiles to a consistent level, checking with a spirit level and straight edge as you go rather than at the end
- Preparing and waterproofing wet areas properly first, since a bathroom that looks perfect over poor prep will leak or lift within a few years
- Grouting, sealing and cleaning down at handover, then walking the finished surface under good light to pick up lippage or a tile out of line
What skills do tilers need?
Employers look for hand and power tool work, reading plans and specifications, worksite safety management, backed by tile cutter fluency and strong attention to detail.
Specialist skills
- Hand and power tool work
- Reading plans and specifications
- Worksite safety management
- Building codes and standards
- Quoting and estimating
Software and tools
- tile cutter
- grout float
- spirit level
- tile spacers
- wet saw
General skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
Is the job growing?
About 21,800 people work as tilers in Australia, and employment is projected to grow 6.4% over the decade to 2035. That's modest growth: demand is steady rather than booming.
How do you become a tiler?
Here's the path most tilers take, step by step.
- 1Get a White Card and line up an apprenticeship
The general construction induction card is required before you set foot on a commercial site, and almost everyone enters the trade through an Australian Apprenticeship rather than a course on its own. You can approach tiling contractors, builders or a group training organisation directly, and Year 10 is usually enough to start.
- 2Complete a Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
The apprenticeship runs about three to four years, combining paid work on site with study at TAFE or another registered training organisation. You finish as a qualified wall and floor tiler, and that qualification is also what a contractor licence requires in the states that license the trade.
- 3Check the licensing rules in your state
Tiling work is licensed in some states, including New South Wales and Queensland, while in others the trade is open but waterproofing in wet areas must be done by a licensed waterproofer. Requirements differ, so confirm them before you quote on paid work for yourself.
- 4Build range across materials and systems
Experience with large-format porcelain, natural stone, screeds and different waterproofing products is what lets you price bigger jobs and stay on a builder's preferred list. It also decides how much of the year you spend on small domestic repairs rather than full fit-outs.
- 5Go out on your own once the work is steady
Subcontracting needs an ABN, public liability insurance, your own tools and a reliable stream of builders and homeowners to quote for. That step is usually where earnings grow, but the quiet weeks between jobs become yours to manage.
Ready to apply as a tiler?
Whether you're working toward becoming a tiler or already are one and want a hand with the next step (sharpening your resume for ATS screening, tightening your cover letter, or knowing what you'll actually be asked at interview), here are examples grounded in this specific role, not generic templates.
What jobs can a tiler move to?
Moving into Concreter typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $53,500 a year more on average.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concreter Tilers' surface preparation, screeding and finishing skills transfer to concreting, with formwork and reinforcement knowledge added.Known move | +$53,500 | 67% | minimal |
| Site Supervisor Experienced tilers bring site knowledge and trade coordination skills to supervision, though building and safety qualifications are required.Known move | +$24,400 | 32% | reskill |
| Flooring Installer Tilers' substrate preparation, setting out and cutting skills carry into floor covering work, though resilient and timber floors need extra training.Known move | +$8,800 | 54% | reskill |
| Roofer Tilers' cutting, levelling and waterproofing skills transfer directly to roof tiling, with roof-specific details learned on site.Known move | +$5,400 | 70% | minimal |
| Glazier Tilers' measuring, cutting and fixing of hard surfaces suit glazing, but glass handling and window systems need further trade training. | +$3,100 | 70% | reskill |
Moves are chosen from Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility, which follows income tax records between 2011-12 and 2020-21, together with entry requirements and skill overlap. A known move is one people were seen making in that data. Pay change compares median full-time pay for the two roles.
Who works as a tiler?
The typical tiler is 39 years old; 93% are men, 83% work full-time, and full-timers average 42 hours a week.
- 39
- Median age
- 7%
- Female share
- 83%
- Full-time
- +2h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being a tiler?
Tiling is physical, precise work with a clear finish line at the end of each job. Days are spent kneeling, crouching or up a ladder in an unfinished house or a stripped bathroom, and the schedule is set largely by other trades, because you cannot lay a floor until the plumber and electrician are out. The people who stay in the trade tend to like work they can measure at the end of the day and are comfortable moving between sites rather than knowing exactly where they will be next month.
What people like
- A finish you can stand back from. Setting the last tile and seeing a wall or floor that is level, even and watertight is the reward, and it is visible to everyone who walks into the room afterwards.
- Work with a definite standard. Level, square and no lippage: the job either passes inspection or it does not, which suits people who like a clear answer rather than an opinion.
- No two jobs the same. Bathrooms, balconies, shopfronts and pools bring different materials, cuts and problems, and moving between sites keeps the work varied.
- A trade with a way forward. Going out on your own is a normal step rather than a leap, and a subcontractor with builders who keep calling can build steady work around their own schedule.
What people find hard
- Hard on the body. Kneeling, lifting boxes of tiles and working overhead wear on knees, backs and shoulders, and most tilers feel it more as they get older.
- Waiting on other trades. A bathroom cannot be tiled until the plumbing, electrical and waterproofing are signed off, so delays upstream come straight out of your week and your pay.
- Quiet patches between jobs. Subcontract work is not steady by default, and quoting, chasing builders for the next start and following up payment all happen in unpaid time.
- Price pressure on small jobs. Homeowners often compare quotes on the square metre rate alone, which can push work towards whoever is cheapest rather than whoever prepares the surface properly.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ tilers?
Construction employs the largest share of tilers.
Top employing industries
- 1Construction
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Certificate III/IV | 49.5% | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 12 or below | 33% | |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 4.5% | |
| Bachelor degree | 4.4% | |
| Postgraduate | 0.8% |
Will AI replace tilers?
Tiling is rated as having low exposure to AI and automation, because the job happens in rooms that are never perfectly square and depends on hands, eyes and judgement on the day. Setting out, cutting around obstacles and getting a membrane watertight still come down to a person on site. Technology has changed the edges of the job, with laser levels, digital measuring and quoting apps speeding up parts of the day without replacing the trade itself.
Share of typical working time by exposure level
- Cutting and laying tilesWet saws, angle grinders and hand cutters are the tools of the trade, but every tile still has to be measured, marked and fixed by hand around pipes and corners.45%low
- Surface preparation and waterproofingScreeding, priming and applying membrane to a wet area is hand work, and getting it right under the tile is what stops a bathroom leaking into the room below.25%low
- Setting out and planning the layoutDeciding where the first tile goes so the cuts at the edges finish even is a judgement made against the actual room, using a laser level or a chalk line.15%low
- Quoting, ordering and schedulingSoftware can estimate tile quantities from a plan and track jobs, but the rate you quote still depends on what you see when you walk through the site.15%moderate
Common questions about becoming a tiler
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much do tilers earn?
Tilers earn $61,400 per year before tax at the median, based on full-time workers. What you take home depends on whether you are on wages or subcontracting, how much of the week goes to quoting and travel rather than laying, and the kind of work you take on.
How do you become a tiler?
Most tilers complete a wall and floor tiling apprenticeship of about three to four years, combining paid on-site work with a Certificate III at TAFE or another registered training organisation. You need a White Card before starting on commercial sites, and licensing rules for tiling and waterproofing vary by state.
Are tilers in demand?
Tilers are currently in shortage nationally, and employment in the trade is projected to grow 6.4% over the decade to 2035. Qualified tilers who can work across domestic and commercial jobs tend to have steady work, since residential building activity rises and falls by state and the two sides of the market rarely slow at the same time.
Will AI take over tiling work?
Tiling is rated as having low exposure to AI and automation, because the work happens in rooms that are never quite square and depends on hands, eyes and feel. Software helps with quoting, ordering and scheduling, and laser levels and better tile cutters speed up setting out, but nothing on the market lays, levels or grouts a floor.
What can a tiler move into?
Tiling shares substrate preparation, setting out and cutting with roofing, concreting and floor covering, so those moves usually need only short retraining. Roofers earn $5,400 more and concreters $53,500 more, and experienced tilers with building and safety qualifications move into site supervision at $24,400 more. Many also go out on their own as subcontractors, which is often where earnings grow.
Do you need a licence to work as a tiler?
Licensing depends on where you work: tiling is a licensed trade in some states, including New South Wales and Queensland, while elsewhere anyone can trade so long as waterproofing in wet areas is done by a licensed waterproofer. If you plan to run your own business, check your state's requirements before quoting on paid work.
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