SOC 47-2022.00

    Stonemasons

    Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments.

    Median pay
    $57,390
    Growth
    -5.4%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    500
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $39,300
    Median
    $57,390
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $86,180
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    7,820 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Stonemasons build structures like walls, piers, and floors using stone. This hands-on career offers a median annual pay of $57,390, with opportunities for those who enjoy physical, outdoor work.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What stonemasons do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry for vats, tanks, and floors.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Stonemasons construct and repair stone structures, including walls, walkways, curbstones, and piers. Their daily tasks involve gathering project details, handling heavy materials, and performing physical labor. They inspect their tools and materials, monitor their work environment, and operate various machines and vehicles. To ensure structures are built correctly, these professionals must solve complex problems, make decisions on-site, and evaluate their progress against building standards.

    This profession attracts individuals with strong realistic interests who enjoy practical, hands-on activities. Success in this field requires skills like critical thinking, active listening, time management, and basic mathematics. Stonemasons must understand construction techniques, design principles, and public safety regulations. They rely on work styles such as dependability, close attention to detail, cooperation, and persistence to complete projects safely and accurately.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a high school diploma. Most workers prepare for the job through some on-the-job training or prior experience. Students interested in this career path can study masonry in college, as a major in mason and masonry directly prepares individuals for this line of work.

    Depending on where you plan to work, you may need to meet state-specific regulations. Some states list a license for this type of construction work, so it is important to check local guidelines. Many professionals in this field also go by titles such as flagstone layer, granite setter, or marble installer.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for stonemasons was $57,390. Earnings can vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $39,300 and the highest 10% earning more than $86,180. There are 7,820 people employed in this occupation.

    Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -5.4%. Despite this projected decrease in total jobs, there are still about 500 job openings expected each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    19 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    32 / 100
    Social (S)
    14 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    5 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    33 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCA. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    88
    Performing General Physical Activities
    87
    Handling and Moving Objects
    82
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    81
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    80
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    79
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    78
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    75
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    75
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    72
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Time Management
    • Coordination
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Active Listening
    • Mathematics
    • Monitoring
    • Reading Comprehension

    Knowledge

    • Building and Construction
    • Design
    • Mathematics
    • Mechanical
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Administration and Management
    • English Language
    • Production and Processing
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Public Safety and Security

    Abilities

    • Static Strength
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Near Vision
    • Trunk Strength
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Stamina
    • Visualization
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Far Vision

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Attention to Detail
    • Perseverance
    • Cautiousness
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Integrity
    • Self-Control
    • Self-Confidence
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Artificial Stone Applicator · Banker Mason · Composition Stone Applicator · Construction Monument Setter · Curbstone Setter · Flagstone Layer · Formstone Fitter · Granite Block Paver · Granite Setter · Marble Installer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to stonemasons

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Stonemasons$57,390 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology logo
      Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

      Lancaster, PA · Mason/Masonry · Associate

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $42,956
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What stonemasons may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Mason/Masonry

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    4 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about stonemasons

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for stonemasons?

    People in this career are also called flagstone layers, granite setters, marble installers, or curbstone setters. Other titles include artificial stone applicators and granite block pavers.

    What is the job outlook for this career?

    Employment is projected to decline by -5.4% from 2025 to 2035. However, there are still 500 job openings projected each year to replace workers who leave the field.

    Is a college degree required to become a stonemason?

    No, a college degree is not typically required. A high school diploma combined with on-the-job training is the standard preparation, though students can choose to major in masonry.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.