Stonemasons
Also called: Artificial Stone Applicator, Banker Mason, Composition Stone Applicator, Construction Monument Setter, Curbstone Setter, Flagstone Layer, Formstone Fitter, Granite Block Paver
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments.
What stonemasons do
Typical 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.
- Smooth, polish, and bevel surfaces, using hand tools and power tools.
- Lay brick to build shells of chimneys and smokestacks or to line or reline industrial furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations.
- Replace broken or missing masonry units in walls or floors.
- Remove sections of monument from truck bed, and guide stone onto foundation, using skids, hoist, or truck crane.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Stonemasons salary
The median annual wage for stonemasons is $57,390 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $39,300 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $86,180. The mean annual wage is $60,710.
The mean hourly wage of $29.00 is 4.0× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Stonemasons (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $57,390 → in 3 years $62,500 → in 5 years $66,100 → in 10 years $76,100 (10-year range $65,400–$88,300). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Stonemasons
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Stonemasons? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Stonemasons
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Stonemasons United States | 石工 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $57,390 | ¥4.68M ≈ $29,735 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $76,100 | ¥6.12M |
| Outlook score | 45 | 61 |
| AI replacement risk | 6% Very low | 24% Low |
| Workers | 7,820 | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Stonemasons
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become stonemasons
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as stonemasons
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.