About This Career

Cuts or carves stone according to diagrams and patterns.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

• Verifies depths and dimensions of cuts or carvings to ensure adherence to specifications, blueprints, or models, using measuring instruments.
• Moves fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish.
• Shapes, trims, or touches up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings.
• Lays out designs or dimensions from sketches or blueprints on stone surfaces, freehand or by transferring them from tracing paper, using scribes or chalk and measuring instruments.
• Cuts, shapes, and finishes rough blocks of building or monumental stone, according to diagrams or patterns.
• Drills holes and cuts or carves moldings and grooves in stone, according to diagrams and patterns.
• Selects chisels, pneumatic or surfacing tools, or sandblasting nozzles, and determines sequence of use.
• Studies artistic objects or graphic materials, such as models, sketches, or blueprints, to plan carving or cutting techniques.
• Carves designs or figures in full or bas relief on stone, employing knowledge of stone carving techniques and sense of artistry to produce carvings consistent with designers' plans.
• Carves rough designs freehand or by chipping along marks on stone, using mallets and chisels or pneumatic tools.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 50 lbs., sometimes up to 100 lbs. You will need a lot of strength at this level.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly up close
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel