How to become a Wall and Floor Tiler

Lays ceramic, clay, slate, marble and glass tiles on external and internal walls and floors to provide protective and decorative finishes.

Main tasks

• Examines plans to identify project requirements, measures and marks surfaces, and lays out work
• Prepares wall and floor surfaces by removing old tiles, grout and adhesive, filling holes and cracks, and cleaning surfaces
• Applies waterproofing systems
• Uses tile-cutting tools to cut and shape tiles to fit around edges, corners, fittings and pipes
• Spreads adhesive onto prepared surfaces and tiles, sets tiles into position, and ensures they are correctly aligned and spaced
• Installs and secures tiles, and applies grout and polish to tiled surfaces
• Checks existing tiles for damage, and repairs or replaces them as required
• May lay floors of granolithic, terrazzo, cement or similar composition
• May lay coloured tiles in patterns to create mosaics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling. Trade occupations are usually entered through an apprenticeship: paid work plus this qualification, typically 3 to 4 years.
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling (CPC31320); Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining (CPC31220); Certificate III in Roof Tiling (CPC30820)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 21,100 people work in this job group now, and about 22,400 are projected by 2035. (+6.4%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Glazier
• Plasterer (Wall and Ceiling)
• Renderer (Solid Plaster)
• Roof Tiler

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Wall and Floor Tiler?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling; Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining; Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling.

Is a Wall and Floor Tiler a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 21,100 to about 22,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Wall and Floor Tiler?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling; Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining; Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling.

Will AI change the work of a Wall and Floor Tiler?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04