Construction and extraction
Stonemason
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry for vats, tanks, and floors.
Median pay
$57,390
Growth to 2035
−5%
declining
Openings a year
500
Time to qualify*
4 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Stonemason
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Stonemason: 2% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Set vertical and horizontal alignment of structures, using plumb bob, gauge line, and level.
- Lay out wall patterns or foundations, using straight edge, rule, or staked lines.
- Set stone or marble in place, according to layout or pattern.
- Remove wedges, fill joints between stones, finish joints between stones, using a trowel, and smooth the mortar to an attractive finish, using a tuck pointer.
- Clean excess mortar or grout from surface of marble, stone, or monument, using sponge, brush, water, or acid.
- Shape, trim, face and cut marble or stone preparatory to setting, using power saws, cutting equipment, and hand tools.
- Mix mortar or grout and pour or spread mortar or grout on marble slabs, stone, or foundation.
- Construct and install prefabricated masonry units.
Also called: Marble Installer · Marble Shop Worker · Mason · Mason Mechanic · Stone Derrickman · Stone Installer · Stone Mason · Stone Setter
Outlook and AI
Stonemasons held 9,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 8,800 by 2035 (−5%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Occupational substitution - share decreases as brickmasons and blockmasons increasingly install more stone products instead of stonemasons.
Compare with
- Stonemason vs. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Stonemason vs. Tile and stone setters
- Stonemason vs. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Stonemason vs. Terrazzo workers and finishers
- Stonemason vs. Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
- Stonemason vs. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Stonemason vs. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Stonemason vs. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Stonemason vs. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
- Stonemason vs. Drywall and ceiling tile installers