Wall and floor tiler
Cover walls or floors with tiles in homes and businesses in order to make rooms attractive as well as watertight.
Also known as: tiler, construction worker, builder
About the job
What it's like
You would cover walls or floors with tiles in places such as kitchens, bathrooms, shops, hotels and restaurants. Your work would make rooms more attractive and pleasant to be in, as well as protecting their surfaces against water damage.
Your tasks might include:
marking out areas and choosing the right amount of tiles and paste
repairing or removing old surfaces
cutting tiles using different tools
preparing surfaces with plaster, sand or cement
fixing tiles and applying grout
buying materials and looking after budgets
talking to customers about their ideas
You would learn to work with many materials including ceramics, glass, terracotta, stone, granite and marble.
It's also possible to specialise in a particular field, for example swimming pools or mosaic walls.
Hours
You would normally work between 37 and 45 hours a week, Monday to Friday, although you may need to work overtime to meet contract deadlines.
Environment
Tiling can be physically demanding and often involves lifting heavy loads. You would wear protective safety clothing when working with adhesives and grout.
Travel
You would travel from site to site, and some contracts may involve overnight stays away from home. You would usually transport your equipment in a van.
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Related industries
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- tiling
- public liability
- tile cutting
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- time management
- managing resources
- implementing ideas
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- observation
- working with numbers
- designing
- creative
- verbal communication
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
Practical Craft Skills
Skills for Work: Construction Craft
You would do a Modern Apprenticeship leading to a relevant Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Wall and Floor Tiling (SVQ level 3) and registration with the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).
Usually there are no formal qualifications required to enter this apprenticeship but most employers value a good general education. You usually have to take an aptitude test as part of the entry process.
Qualifications and experience that show practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF level 4/5).
A driving licence can be useful.
You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent safety passport to train and work on site. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.
Some employers would expect you to have some experience working as a labourer.
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