How to Become a Tiler in the UK
Tilers fit ceramic, porcelain, stone and mosaic tiles to walls and floors in bathrooms, kitchens, wet rooms, shops, hospitals and offices. You prepare and level surfaces, set out the layout so cuts look neat, cut tiles by hand or with wet saws, fix them with the right adhesive, then grout and seal. Waterproofing showers and wet rooms is a big part of domestic work.
You do not need a degree. Most tilers learn through an apprenticeship or by working alongside an experienced tiler, and many become self-employed once they have a few years' experience and a portfolio of jobs.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £24,000 - £30,000
- Mid-career salary
- £32,000 - £45,000
- Senior salary
- £50,000 - £70,000
- Work environment
- On-site, hands-on, often outdoors
- Time to entry
- 1 - 2 years
- Degree required
- Not required - apprenticeship route
- Category
- Skilled Trades
Compare pay across careers in the UK salaries by career report. Also in: No-degree careers, Career change.
What a Tiler does
Cut and fit tiles to walls and floors in bathrooms, kitchens and commercial spaces.
- Wall and Floor - Domestic kitchen and bathroom tiling.
- Large-format Tiling - Large slab porcelain and natural stone.
- Wet Rooms - Tank and tile wet rooms and shower areas.
- Commercial Tiling - Retail, hotel and public-realm tiling.
How to become a tiler in the UK
The main formal route is a wall and floor tiling apprenticeship, usually at Level 2, combining paid work with college training. You can also take a college course or an NVQ in wall and floor tiling, which you need for a CSCS skilled worker card on most building sites. Private training centres run short tiling courses for career changers, but you still need months of real site work to become quick and accurate. Learn to work to BS 5385, the British Standard for wall and floor tiling. The Tile Association offers training and membership that some customers and contractors look for.
- Take a short introductory tiling course or labour for an experienced tiler to learn setting out, cutting and fixing before committing to the trade.
- Apply for a wall and floor tiling apprenticeship with a tiling contractor, or a college tiling course if you cannot find an employer yet.
- Complete your NVQ in wall and floor tiling and apply for a CSCS card so you can work on commercial and housebuilding sites.
- Learn tanking and waterproofing systems for showers and wet rooms, because leaks are the most common and expensive tiling failure.
- Practise large-format and porcelain tiling, including levelling systems and back-buttering, as demand and day rates for this work are high.
- Photograph every finished job and collect reviews so you have a portfolio ready when you start pricing your own work.
- Before going self-employed, register with HMRC, get public liability insurance and buy professional cutting and mixing tools.
| Route | How long | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall and floor tiling apprenticeship | Around 2 years | Paid by the employer | School leavers and new starters |
| College course or NVQ in tiling | 1-2 years | Often free for under-19s; otherwise varies | People without an employer yet |
| Short private course, then site work | Weeks of training, then 1-2 years' experience | Varies by provider | Career changers needing a fast start |
How long it takes
Expect 1 to 2 years of training and site work before you are a fully competent tiler. You can start earning within weeks as an apprentice, a tiler's mate or a labourer for a bathroom fitter.
Tiler salary in the UK
New tilers usually earn around £24,000 to £30,000. With experience, pay rises to about £32,000 to £45,000, and established tilers, especially self-employed specialists, can earn £50,000 to £70,000. Self-employed tilers charge by the day or per square metre, so income depends on speed, how full your diary is, and your area, with London and the South East paying most. Specialist work such as large-format porcelain, natural stone and wet rooms pays more than basic wall tiling.
Key skills
- Setting out
- Cutting tiles
- Adhesives & grout
- Waterproofing
- Customer comms
Tiler FAQs
How do I become a tiler?
Start with a wall and floor tiling apprenticeship, a college course or a short private course, then build experience working with a qualified tiler. Complete an NVQ in tiling to get a CSCS card for site work, and build a portfolio before going self-employed.
Do I need qualifications to be a tiler?
No qualification is legally required for domestic tiling, but most building sites need a CSCS card, which usually means an NVQ in wall and floor tiling. Customers and contractors also look for experience, insurance and good reviews. No degree is needed.
How much does a tiler earn?
New tilers usually earn around £24,000 to £30,000. Experienced tilers earn about £32,000 to £45,000, and established self-employed specialists can reach £50,000 to £70,000. Day rates and price per square metre vary by region and type of work.
Is tiling hard on your body?
It can be. Tilers spend a lot of time kneeling, bending and lifting heavy boxes and adhesive bags. Good knee pads, mixing tools, lifting technique and dust control with proper masks when cutting help you stay in the trade for the long term.
Is Tiler right for you?
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Still deciding whether tiler is the career for you? Here is which career test is actually worth taking, and what a free quiz will not tell you.