Stone Cutters and Carvers
O*NET title: Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.
Also called: Carver, Chiseler, Cutter, Granite Cutter, Granite Fabricator, Granite Slab Fabricator
Median pay
$46,170
Pay for the broader BLS group “Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,850 – $61,530
People employed
33,190
Whole BLS group
Holland code
RAC
Realistic · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 3.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 4.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 6.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 7.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 8.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Stone Cutters and Carvers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (48 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic”.
What stone cutters and carvers do
- 01Load sandblasting equipment with abrasives, attach nozzles to hoses, and turn valves to admit compressed air and activate jets.
- 02Shape, trim, or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings.
- 03Verify depths and dimensions of cuts or carvings to ensure adherence to specifications, blueprints, or models, using measuring instruments.
- 04Move fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish.
- 05Lay out designs or dimensions from sketches or blueprints on stone surfaces, freehand or by transferring them from tracing paper, using scribes or chalk and measuring instruments.
- 06Drill holes and cut or carve moldings and grooves in stone, according to diagrams and patterns.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from stone cutters and carvers
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers88% · —
- Stonemasons87% · —
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters86% · —
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic86% · —
- Tile and Stone Setters85% · —
Change into stone cutters and carvers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Rock Splitters, Quarry85% · $48,740
- Furniture Finishers84% · $44,540
- Carpet Installers82% · $50,340
- Stonemasons81% · $57,390
- Tile and Stone Setters81% · $55,690