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Stonemason: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$57,390median pay per year, or $27.59 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,300lowest 10% earn less
  2. $45,45025th percentile
  3. $57,390median
  4. $71,63075th percentile
  5. $86,180top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A stonemason earned a median of $57,390 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to shrink 5.4% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.4%[3]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do stonemasons make?

The median wage for a stonemason was $57,390 a year, or $27.59 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $60,710 a year, or $29.19 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Here is the spread of annual pay:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][8] $39,300 $18.89
25th[4][8] $45,450 $21.85
Median[1] $57,390 $27.59
75th[4][8] $71,630 $34.44
90th[4][8] $86,180 $41.43

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,300, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $86,180[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 7,820 people held wage and salary jobs as stonemasons[11]. Another measure found that 17.6% of stonemasons were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Wisconsin had the highest state median at $82,740, but with only 70 jobs[13]. Nevada followed at $79,600 and Washington at $78,010[13]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median at $40,700[13].

California had the most jobs at 1,250, then Texas at 420 and Washington at 350[14]. Among metro areas, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $81,730, followed by Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV at $79,600[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 820, with a median of $61,200[16].

Show median pay in 31 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Wisconsin[13]$82,74070
Nevada$79,600220
Washington$78,010350
Massachusetts$69,610n/a
New Jersey$66,210n/a
Vermont$65,95080
Rhode Island$62,510n/a
Montana$61,040160
Maine$60,980230
California$60,9301,250
Minnesota$60,510n/a
Michigan$59,160130
Pennsylvania$59,060160
Florida$58,980n/a
New Hampshire$57,60040
Kansas$57,55090
North Carolina$52,760n/a
Colorado$49,630240
Utah$49,260n/a
Ohio$48,820150
Virginia$48,550n/a
New York$46,980n/a
Tennessee$46,830140
Indiana$45,870140
Texas$45,790420
Maryland$44,280250
Missouri$43,880200
Alabama$42,21090
Arizona$42,130270
Oklahoma$40,930n/a
Mississippi$40,70060

How to become a stonemason

The typical path looks like this[6]:

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile covers masonry workers as a wider group, so its training details describe that group[17]. It says the usual way in is an apprenticeship and learning on the job beside experienced masons[18]. Unions and contractor associations are among the groups that sponsor apprenticeship programs[19]. Apprentices study topics such as blueprint reading, measurement math, building codes and safety. After finishing, they are considered journey workers who can do tasks on their own[19]. Technical schools also offer masonry programs[20]. Some workers start as construction laborers or helpers[21].

O*NET puts the job in a zone where little to some preparation is needed[22]. The facts do not say how long an apprenticeship takes.

After becoming a journey worker, masons may advance to supervisor or manager roles or become independent contractors[23].

What stonemasons do

O*NET describes the job as building stone structures such as piers, walls and abutments, and laying walks, curbstones and special masonry[24]. Typical tasks include[25]:

O*NET sample titles include stone setter, stone installer and marble installer[26].

Where they work

The Handbook profile for masonry workers says poured concrete foundation and structure contractors employed 31% of them in 2025[27]. Masonry work is strenuous, with heavy lifting and long periods of standing, kneeling and bending[28]. It may be indoors or outdoors, and weather can affect outdoor jobs[28]. Cuts, falls and being struck by objects are common risks, so workers wear protective gear[29].

Most masons work full time, and some put in extra hours when deadlines are close[30]. Qualities the Handbook lists include comfort at heights, dexterity and physical stamina[31][32][33].

Job outlook

Employment is projected to decline 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,300 to 8,800 jobs, a change of 500[3]. For all occupations, employment is projected to grow 3.5%[34]. One factor is that brickmasons and blockmasons increasingly install stone products in place of stonemasons[35].

About 500 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.6% of workers leave the labor force and 3.9% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show pay above the all-occupation median at $57,390[1][2]. Entry typically takes a high school diploma or equivalent and an apprenticeship[6]. The field is small and employment is projected to fall[11][3]. The work is physical and mostly outdoors[28][30]. Anyone weighing it may want to look at local pay and openings, since state medians vary widely[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a stonemason make an hour?
The median was $27.59 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $18.89 and the 90th was $41.43[8].
What education do you need to be a stonemason?
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically needed, along with an apprenticeship[6].
Is stonemasonry in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, and about 500 openings a year are projected[3][5].
What is the highest paying state for stonemasons?
Wisconsin, with a median of $82,740 and only 70 jobs[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Stonemasons in the US was $57,390 per year and $27.59 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Stonemasons is projected to decline 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,300 to 8,800 jobs (a change of -500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Stonemasons: 10th percentile $39,300, 25th percentile $45,450, 75th percentile $71,630, 90th percentile $86,180. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Stonemasons are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Stonemasons: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Stonemasons was $60,710 per year and $29.19 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Stonemasons: 10th percentile $18.89, 25th percentile $21.85, 75th percentile $34.44, 90th percentile $41.43. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 7,820 people were employed as Stonemasons in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 17.6% of Stonemasons were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Stonemasons in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Stonemasons jobs: California 1,250; Texas 420; Washington 350; Arizona 270; Maryland 250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Stonemasons (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $81,730; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $79,600; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,790; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $61,690; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $61,200; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $61,140; Portland-South Portland, ME $61,060; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $58,760. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Stonemasons jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 820 (median $61,200); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 310 (median $61,690); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 230 (median $81,730); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 180 (median $48,180); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 160 (median $61,140); Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 150 (median $79,600). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Masonry Workers" covers Stonemasons together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 47-2022.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Stonemasons. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Stonemasons. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 47-2022.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Marble Installer, Marble Shop Worker, Mason, Mason Mechanic, Stone Derrickman, Stone Installer, Stone Mason, Stone Setter. O*NET OnLine
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of masonry workers in 2025: Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors 31%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Stonemasons: Occupational substitution - share decreases as brickmasons and blockmasons increasingly install more stone products instead of stonemasons. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Stonemasons: 2.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.