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Block and tile laying workers

How to become a Tiler

Also called: Wall tiler, Apprentice tiler, Floor tiler

Lays tiles on the floors and walls of buildings to finish their surfaces.

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Many people join a tiling company straight after school, start as an apprentice under skilled workers and gradually learn more advanced work. Training as a tiler at a vocational training school for six months to a year before starting helps you learn faster once you are working. It takes some time to become a fully skilled tiler, but as your skills improve you can set up on your own. You need spatial judgement, a good eye for shape and nimble fingers and hands. The work is on building sites and some of it is outdoors, so physical fitness and perseverance are also needed. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's ginou kentei (national trade skills test) includes a tiling exam, and gaining it serves as proof of skill.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Tiler?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Many people join a tiling company straight after school, start as an apprentice under skilled workers and gradually learn more advanced work. Training as a tiler at a vocational training school for six months to a year before starting helps you learn faster once you are working. It takes some time to become a fully skilled tiler, but as your skills improve you can set up on your own. You need spatial judgement, a good eye for shape and nimble fingers and hands. The work is on building sites and some of it is outdoors, so physical fitness and perseverance are also needed. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's ginou kentei (national trade skills test) includes a tiling exam, and gaining it serves as proof of skill.

How much does a Tiler earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,668,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other construction workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Tiler?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 6% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Tiler?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026