Stonemasons
Overview
Stonemasons are skilled craftspeople who build beautiful and durable structures using stone materials for walls, exteriors, and floors. They use precision tools like levels and plumbs to align structures perfectly, mix and apply mortar, cut stone to exact specifications, and polish surfaces to create stunning finishes. This hands-on career combines traditional craftsmanship with modern power tools and requires strong attention to detail, physical strength, and spatial reasoning skills. Many stonemasons learn through apprenticeships or vocational training and often work collaboratively on construction teams to create everything from residential patios to historic building restorations.
Did you know?
Stonemasons must be prepared for physically demanding work involving heavy lifting, prolonged standing, and exposure to dust and weather conditions, requiring strict adherence to safety protocols.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$56,169.43 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Negotiation
Key Responsibilities
- Mix mortar or grout and pour or spread mortar or grout on marble slabs, stone, or foundation.
- 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.
- Position mold along guidelines of wall, press mold in place, and remove mold and paper from wall.
- Replace broken or missing masonry units in walls or floors.
- Repair cracked or chipped areas of stone or marble, using blowtorch and mastic, and remove rough or defective spots from concrete, using power grinder or chisel and hammer.
- Dig trench for foundation of monument, using pick and shovel.
- Set stone or marble in place, according to layout or pattern.
- Drill holes in marble or ornamental stone and anchor brackets in holes.
- Lay brick to build shells of chimneys and smokestacks or to line or reline industrial furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations.
- 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.
- Clean excess mortar or grout from surface of marble, stone, or monument, using sponge, brush, water, or acid.
- Construct and install prefabricated masonry units.
- Remove sections of monument from truck bed, and guide stone onto foundation, using skids, hoist, or truck crane.
- Smooth, polish, and bevel surfaces, using hand tools and power tools.
- Shape, trim, face and cut marble or stone preparatory to setting, using power saws, cutting equipment, and hand tools.
Career Considerations
Physical Demands and Safety Requirements
Stonemasons must be prepared for physically demanding work involving heavy lifting, prolonged standing, and exposure to dust and weather conditions, requiring strict adherence to safety protocols.
Apprenticeship and Skill Development
Entry into the profession typically requires completing a formal apprenticeship program or vocational training to master specialized techniques in stone cutting, carving, and installation.
Market Demand and Employment Opportunities
Employment prospects are tied to construction industry cycles and historic preservation projects, with opportunities varying significantly by geographic region and local building traditions.