All careers

Stonemasons

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

What you’d do

  • 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.

Skills that matter

  • Critical Thinking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Time Management
  • Coordination
  • Operations Monitoring

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Mason
  • Stone Derrickman
  • Stone Setter
  • Stonemason
  • Marble Installer
  • Marble Shop Worker

Related careers

See all careers

  • Brickmasons and Blockmasons

    Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Tile and Stone Setters

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Terrazzo Workers and Finishers

    Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters

    Help brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, or tile and marble setters by performing duties requiring less skill.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

    Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one