# Rock Splitters, Quarry

> Separate blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammers, wedges, or chop saws.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rock-splitters-quarry
- SOC code: 47-5051.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $48,740 (10th percentile $37,340, 90th percentile $67,710)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.8%
- Openings a year: 400
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 18 |
| Artistic (A) | 12 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 3 |
| Conventional (C) | 37 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 71/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 69/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 65/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 63/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 60/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 58/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 53/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 51/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 51/100)
- Getting Information (importance 50/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Mathematics, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, English Language, Personnel and Human Resources, Customer and Personal Service, Transportation

## Also called

Driller, Quarry Chop Saw Operator, Quarry Driller, Quarry Plug and Feather Driller, Quarry Worker, Quarrying Specialist, Rock Breaker, Rock Picker, Rock Splitter, Rockman

## Related careers

- [Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stone-cutters-and-carvers-manufacturing): $46,170 median pay
- [Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rotary-drill-operators-oil-and-gas): $67,890 median pay
- [Foundry Mold and Coremakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/foundry-mold-and-coremakers): $48,110 median pay
- [Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sawing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-wood): $42,770 median pay
- [Cutters and Trimmers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutters-and-trimmers-hand): $38,020 median pay
- [Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/earth-drillers-except-oil-and-gas): $60,190 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.