Stone cutters and carvers shape and finish stone for buildings, monuments, and decorative pieces. The work is hands-on, skilled, and you can enter with a high school education. Here is what the job involves, what it takes to succeed, and how to get started.
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You cut, shape, and carve stone using both hand tools and machines. Your work involves handling and moving stone materials, controlling cutting and carving equipment, and operating mechanized devices to achieve precise dimensions and designs. You communicate with supervisors and coworkers about project specifications, make decisions about technique and tool selection, and perform the physical work of finishing stone surfaces. The role requires knowledge of mathematics to measure and calculate angles, understanding of production processes, and mechanical skill to operate equipment safely and effectively.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing earn a median of $46,170 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for all occupations, with about 5,500 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most stone cutters and carvers start with a high school diploma or equivalent. You will learn the trade through on-the-job training, where you work alongside experienced cutters and carvers to develop your skills with hand and power tools. Training typically covers stone properties, measurement and layout, equipment operation, and safety practices. Some employers offer formal apprenticeships or training programs. Building proficiency takes time and practice, but you can begin earning while you learn, and advancement comes as your technical skills and knowledge grow.
Entry routes include direct hire with on-the-job training and formal apprenticeships. If you are deciding between these paths or mapping out your first steps, Pathly can map the stone cutter and carver, manufacturing path that fits you to build a plan with your counselor.
You are drawn to hands-on, practical work. You like operating equipment, solving problems with tools and materials, and seeing tangible results from your effort.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).