Vocational.uk The route, drawn out

Construction & Building

Wall & Floor Tiler

Set out and fix ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tiles in kitchens, bathrooms and commercial spaces.

Steady demand Can go self-employed Level 2 apprenticeship
Typical pay once qualified
£27,000 – £42,000
Training length
2 years
Apprenticeship standard
Wall and floor tiler
Where to train
233 providers listed

The route, drawn out

DWG B289 · 5 stops · 2 years to qualify
  1. Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
  2. Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
  3. 2 years Fully qualified around £27k
  4. +3–5 years Experienced up to £42k
  5. Then Your own business you set the rate

The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.

What the job is

Tiling looks simple and is not: the setting out decides whether a bathroom looks professional or amateur, and large-format porcelain is unforgiving. You learn substrate preparation, waterproofing, adhesives, cutting and grouting.

It is clean, indoor, well-paid work that suits people who like precision. Most tilers go self-employed within a few years and work directly for bathroom and kitchen fitters, developers or homeowners.

A typical day

  • Prepare and level substrates, including tanking wet areas
  • Set out from centre lines so cuts fall evenly
  • Cut tiles accurately, including holes and mitres
  • Fix wall and floor tiles with the right adhesive system
  • Grout, silicone and finish to a clean edge

How you get in

  • No formal qualifications required for most level 2 apprenticeships
  • Patience and an eye for line and level
  • Good with your hands and comfortable kneeling for long periods
  • CSCS card for site work

Where it leads

  • Advanced tiler (level 3) — large format, natural stone, mosaics
  • Wet room and waterproofing specialist
  • Self-employed with direct domestic and trade clients
  • Estimating and supervising for a tiling contractor

Where to train for this

233 colleges and training providers on our list cover Wall & Floor Tiler training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.

East Midlands 15
East of England 18
London 17
North East 14
North West 29
South East 24
South West 18
UK-wide 14
West Midlands 21
Yorkshire and the Humber 20
East Scotland 6
North Scotland 7
West Scotland 9
North Wales 2
South Wales 8
West Wales 2
Northern Ireland 6
Channel Islands 2
Isle of Man 1

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