What is a Stonemason?

Stonemason Definition Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry for vats, tanks, and floors.

Life As a Stonemason: What Do They Do?

• Drill holes in marble or ornamental stone and anchor brackets in holes.
• Smooth, polish, and bevel surfaces, using hand tools and power tools.
• Dig trench for foundation of monument, using pick and shovel.
• Lay out wall patterns or foundations, using straight edge, rule, or staked lines.
• Clean excess mortar or grout from surface of marble, stone, or monument, using sponge, brush, water, or acid.
• Position mold along guidelines of wall, press mold in place, and remove mold and paper from wall.

Stonemason Needed Skills

These are the skills Stonemasons say are the most useful in their careers:

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Types of Stonemason Jobs

• Marble Setter
• Banker Mason
• Monument Installer
• Rock Mason
• Stone Setter

Stonemason Job Outlook

In the United States, there were 18,900 jobs for Stonemason in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Stonemason by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Stonemason are Utah, Colorado, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Mississippi, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Stonemason

The salary for Stonemasons ranges between about $26,400 and $66,690 a year.

Stonemasons who work in Nevada, New Jersey, or Wyoming, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Stonemasons in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$43,710
Arizona	$35,960
California	$46,860
Colorado	$41,180
Connecticut	$43,790
Florida	$39,360
Georgia	$41,080
Hawaii	$50,490
Idaho	$36,060
Illinois	$50,390
Indiana	$48,430
Kansas	$42,600
Kentucky	$41,980
Louisiana	$30,900
Maine	$33,830
Maryland	$41,750
Massachusetts	$50,360
Michigan	$41,930
Minnesota	$45,670
Missouri	$43,150
Nevada	$57,490
New Hampshire	$46,750
New Jersey	$54,890
New Mexico	$32,120
New York	$41,560
North Carolina	$39,340
Ohio	$38,840
Oklahoma	$36,130
Oregon	$44,940
Pennsylvania	$51,010
South Carolina	$32,240
Tennessee	$38,020
Texas	$39,730
Utah	$45,380
Vermont	$45,630
Virginia	$49,420
Washington	$47,070
Wyoming	$52,340

Tools & Technologies Used by Stonemasons

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Stonemasons may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Intuit QuickBooks
• SAP software
• Virtual private networking VPN software
• Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
• CPR Visual Estimator
• Tradesman's Software Master Estimator
• RISA Technologies RISA-3D

How to Become a Stonemason

What education is needed to be a Stonemason?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Stonemasons Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Stonemasons employed by various industries.

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Leonard G. via Creative Commons ShareAlike 1.0

More about our data sources and methodologies.