Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.

Also called: Carver, Cutter, Granite Cutter, Granite Stone Cutter, Polisher, Sandblast Carver, Shape Carver, Stone Carver, Stone Cutter, Stone Fabricator, Chiseler, Granite Fabricator, Granite Slab Fabricator, Granite Worker, Hand Stonecutter, Internal Carver, Marble Carver, Marble Cutter, Monument Letterer, Statue Carver, Stone Decorator, Stone Dresser, Stone Sandblaster, Stoneworker, Tombstone Carver

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Shape, trim, or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings.
Verify depths and dimensions of cuts or carvings to ensure adherence to specifications, blueprints, or models, using measuring instruments.
Move fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish.
Lay 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.
Drill holes and cut or carve moldings and grooves in stone, according to diagrams and patterns.
Remove or add stencils during blasting to create differing cut depths, intricate designs, or rough, pitted finishes.
Guide nozzles over stone, following stencil outlines, or chip along marks to create designs or to work surfaces down to specified finishes.
Carve designs or figures in full or bas relief on stone, employing knowledge of stone carving techniques and sense of artistry to produce carvings consistent with designers' plans.
Select chisels, pneumatic or surfacing tools, or sandblasting nozzles, and determine sequence of use.

Skills, machines and equipment

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Monitoring
Time Management
Social Perceptiveness
Complex Problem Solving
Coordination
Active Learning
Operations Monitoring

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (65.55% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

39,280–53,000 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9195.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (65.55% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing