Tile & Stone Setter
Skilled Trades
Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
- 2Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge.
- 3Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.
- 4Determine and implement the best layout to achieve a desired pattern.
- 5Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles, using brush, trowel and screed.
- 6Study blueprints and examine surface to be covered to determine amount of material needed.
- 7Measure and mark surfaces to be tiled, following blueprints.
- 8Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural, and floor designs.
- 9Apply mortar to tile back, position the tile, and press or tap with trowel handle to affix tile to base.
- 10Mix and apply mortar or cement to edges and ends of drain tiles to seal halves and joints.
- 11Apply a sealer to make grout stain- and water-resistant.
- 12Level concrete and allow to dry.
- 13Measure and cut metal lath to size for walls and ceilings, using tin snips.
- 14Prepare surfaces for tiling by attaching lath or waterproof paper, or by applying a cement mortar coat to a metal screen.
- 15Install and anchor fixtures in designated positions, using hand tools.
- 16Spread mastic or other adhesive base on roof deck to form base for promenade tile, using serrated spreader.
- 17Assist customers in selection of tile and grout.
- 18Remove and replace cracked or damaged tile.
- 19Prepare cost and labor estimates, based on calculations of time and materials needed for project.
- 20Cut tile backing to required size, using shears.
- 21Remove any old tile, grout and adhesive using chisels and scrapers and clean the surface carefully.
- 22Brush glue onto manila paper on which design has been drawn and position tiles, finished side down, onto paper.
- 23Cut, surface, polish, and install marble and granite or install pre-cast terrazzo, granite or marble units.
- 24Select and order tile and other items to be installed, such as bathroom accessories, walls, panels, and cabinets, according to specifications.
- 25Build underbeds and install anchor bolts, wires, and brackets.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Tile Man
- Installer
- Tile Mason
- Tile Setter
- Mosaic Layer
- Tile Erector
- Marble Setter
- Marble Worker
- Mosaic Worker
- Tile Finisher
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
Typical entry
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Building and Construction79%
Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Mathematics67%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- Customer and Personal Service61%
- Design60%
Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing
- Administration and Management51%
BusinessEconomics
- Mechanical51%
Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
- Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
- Leading or coordinating othersVery high
- Handling conflict situationsAlmost never
- Noisy environmentEvery day
- Time spent sittingAlmost none
- Time spent standingAlmost all the time
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
If this interests you, these are worth a look too.
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Tile and Stone Setters
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org