A wall and floor tiler covers walls and floors, indoors – for example bathrooms and kitchens, as well as commercial and leisure premises. Materials include marble, granite, stone, glass, ceramic and plastic.

The Work

You could be:

• working from diagrams and written instructions
• removing the old covering, if any
• preparing the surface, perhaps levelling the floor using sand and cement or plastering the walls
• measuring the area and calculating the number of tiles needed, taking patterns and wastage from cutting into account
• spreading cement or adhesive with a trowel and laying tiles, checking that they are straight and level
• cutting tiles to fit corners and edges, using either a hand-held or bench-mounted cutter
• using patterned tiles to create a mosaic or decorative effect
• after the adhesive has dried, filling in joints with grout.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of the company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

As of June 2023 the Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) recommends the following rates for a 4-year apprenticeship based on a 39-hour week are:

Year 1 – £237.46 (£6.09 an hour)
Year 2 – £316.02 (£8.10 an hour)
Year 3 – £396.38 (£10.16 an hour)
Year 4 – £396.38 (£10.16 an hour) (without SCQF Level 6)
Year 4 – £419.27 (£10.75 an hour) (with SCQF Level 6).

Please note these rates may vary if the Apprentice is 21 years old or over and has completed the first year of their apprenticeship. National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) will apply.

A newly qualified wall and floor tiler can earn around £12.00 to £16.00 an hour. Experienced wall and floor tilers can earn around £25 an hour or more. You can earn extra through overtime, bonuses and shift allowances.

Conditions

• You will mostly work indoors.
• There will be a lot of kneeling and bending, sometimes in cramped positions.
• Workspaces can be dusty, from removing old tiles and cutting new ones.
• You will sometimes be working at heights.
• You will have to travel to different sites.
• You would work between 37 to 45 hours a week. There might be some evening and weekend work to meet deadlines.

Useful Subjects

• Construction (SCQF Levels 4 and 5) (FA)
• Practical Craft Skills
• SfW Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering

Getting In

• The normal entry route is through a Modern Apprenticeship with an employer.
• You do not always need formal qualifications, but some employers ask for subjects at National 4 or 5 including English, Maths and a technological subject.
• You could study the Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction (SCQF Level 4 or 5) in S3-S6, which can help you to get into a relevant Modern Apprenticeship. 
• You usually have to sit an aptitude test as part of the application process.
• A driving licence can be useful, and may be necessary.
• You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on a building site. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.

There are vacancies with wall and floor tiling contractors and in small tiling firms, some of which do specialist artistic work. There are occasional vacancies with large building contractors.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2024

984

5.4 %

RISE

2029

1037

  United Kingdom

2024

17728

5.8 %

RISE

2029

18760

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What Does it Take?

You need to have:

• good practical skills
• an eye for shape, colour and symmetry
• awareness of safety issues
• a pleasant manner with clients
• business skills to keep records and accounts if you are self-employed.

You need to be able to:

• measure accurately and do basic maths calculations
• work neatly
• plan designs and follow prepared plans
• work on your own and as part of a team.

Training

• Training during a Modern Apprenticeship is mainly on the job with off the job training at college or training centre.
• You would work towards SVQ in Wall and Floor Tiling (Construction) at SCQF Level 6 and a PDA in Wall and Floor Tiling at SCQF Level 6.

Getting On

• With experience, in a larger company, you can apply for a supervisory post.
• You might move into management.
• Like many wall and floor tilers, you might become self-employed.
• You may be able to work abroad.

More Information

For more information please see list of organisations below:

• Construction Industry Training Board  (CITB) 
• Scottish Building Apprentice and Training Council (SBATC)

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Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.