Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing earn a median of $46,170 per year ($22.20/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 5.8% through 2035, with about 5,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9195
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing in four numbers
- Median pay
- $46,170a year, or $22.20/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $62K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.8%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,10043,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202543K
- Projected 203545.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 43K Projected 2035 45.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school21.8%
- High school65.6%
- Certificate5.6%
- Some college0.7%
- Associate's5.4%
- Doctorate1%
Highest education held by stone cutters and carvers, manufacturing Segment Value Less than high school 21.8% High school 65.6% Certificate 5.6% Some college 0.7% Associate's 5.4% Doctorate 1%
Also advertised as: Carver, Cutter, Granite Cutter, Granite Stone Cutter, Polisher, Sandblast Carver.
Pay
How much do Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing make?
Every stone cutter and carver, manufacturing in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$46,170
Middle half earn $39,280 to $53,000
- 10th
- $35,850
- 25th
- $39,280
- 75th
- $53,000
- 90th
- $61,530
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,850 |
| 25th | $39,280 |
| Median | $46,170 |
| 75th | $53,000 |
| 90th | $61,530 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $46,170
- Median hourly wage
- $22.20/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $47,500
- People employed
- 33,190
Versus all US occupations
At $46,170, Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing earn 9% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,810 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 4% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $61,530 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,850, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 13% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Montana pays the most at $57,860, and still leads at $61,134 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Montana | $57,860 | $61,134 | 150 |
| 2Hawaii | $55,990 | $50,923 | 40 |
| 3Oregon | $52,740 | $51,025 | 410 |
| 4Connecticut | $52,520 | $50,690 | 170 |
| 5Washington | $51,780 | $48,387 | 1,130 |
| 6New Hampshire | $51,470 | $49,412 | 160 |
| 7Massachusetts | $50,550 | $47,798 | 1,200 |
| 8Maryland | $50,360 | $47,981 | 110 |
| 9Colorado | $49,530 | $48,063 | 390 |
| 10California | $49,190 | $44,427 | 3,590 |
Job outlook
Is Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing | +5.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing to change 5.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,100 openings are projected each year, 11.9% of the 43,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as stone cutters and carvers, manufacturing.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)65.6%
- Less than a High School Diploma21.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate5.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5.4%
- Doctoral Degree1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 65.6% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 21.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 5.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing do?
Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Drill holes and cut or carve moldings and grooves in stone, according to diagrams and patterns.
- Shape, trim, or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings.
- Select chisels, pneumatic or surfacing tools, or sandblasting nozzles, and determine sequence of use.
- 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.
- 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.
- Guide nozzles over stone, following stencil outlines, or chip along marks to create designs or to work surfaces down to specified finishes.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Active Learning2.5
- Writing2.3
- Mathematics2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Mathematics | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Coordination2.6
- Operations Monitoring2.5
- Operation and Control2.5
- Equipment Selection2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Coordination | 2.6 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.5 |
| Operation and Control | 2.5 |
| Equipment Selection | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Inventory management software
- Time accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Realistic7.0
- Artistic3.8
- Conventional3.8
- Investigative1.9
- Social1.2
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Production
Molder, Shaper, and Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
$46,170median a year
Most earn $36K to $62K
+5.8%High school - Construction and Extraction
- Production
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
$42,660median a year
Most earn $33K to $61K
−19.2%No formal credential - Production
More production careers
Median annual pay, with stone cutters and carvers, manufacturing highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing$46,170
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing | $46,170 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing appears on
Questions
Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing: frequently asked questions
How much do Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing make?
Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing earn a median of $46,170 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 9% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.20/hr. The middle half earn between $39,280 and $53,000. The top 10% earn $61,530 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 65.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing do?
Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns. A core O*NET task: verify depths and dimensions of cuts or carvings to ensure adherence to specifications, blueprints, or models, using measuring instruments. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing the most?
The highest state medians for Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing are Montana ($57,860), Hawaii ($55,990), Oregon ($52,740) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing?
O*NET scores Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing highest on the Realistic, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.