Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

Overview

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Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.

Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.

Yearly Salary

High: $53K
Median: $35K
Low: $25K

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Verify depths and dimensions of cuts or carvings to ensure adherence to specifications, blueprints, or models, using measuring instruments.
  • Move fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish.
  • Shape, trim, or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings.
  • Study artistic objects or graphic materials, such as models, sketches, or blueprints, to plan carving or cutting techniques.
  • Carve 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.
  • Lay 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.
  • Cut, shape, and finish rough blocks of building or monumental stone, according to diagrams or patterns.
  • Drill holes and cut or carve moldings and grooves in stone, according to diagrams and patterns.
  • Select chisels, pneumatic or surfacing tools, or sandblasting nozzles, and determine sequence of use.
  • Carve rough designs freehand or by chipping along marks on stone, using mallets and chisels or pneumatic tools.
  • Guide nozzles over stone, following stencil outlines, or chip along marks to create designs or to work surfaces down to specified finishes.
  • Smooth surfaces of carvings, using rubbing stones.
  • Dress stone surfaces, using bushhammers.
  • Load sandblasting equipment with abrasives, attach nozzles to hoses, and turn valves to admit compressed air and activate jets.
  • Remove or add stencils during blasting to create differing cut depths, intricate designs, or rough, pitted finishes.
  • Copy drawings on rough clay or plaster models.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Graphics or photo imaging software
Corel Paint Shop Pro
Inventory management software
Inventory control software
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Time accounting software
Timekeeping software
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Grinding and polishing and smoothing materials
Rubbing stones
Hand tools
Frosting chisels
Industrial process machinery and equipment and supplies
Polishing machines
Industrial pumps and compressors
Air compressors
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Precision rulers
Mining and quarrying machinery and equipment
Granite saws
Office and desk accessories
Design stencils
Personal safety and protection
Safety gloves
Pneumatic machinery and equipment
Sandblasters
Raw materials processing machinery
Computerized numerical control CNC routers
Welding and soldering and brazing machinery and accessories and supplies
Blow torches

Top 10 Knowledge Required

Mathematics
73%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Production and Processing
72%
Importance

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Mechanical
65%
Importance

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Administration and Management
63%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

English Language
63%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Design
62%
Importance

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Education and Training
60%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Public Safety and Security
57%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Building and Construction
54%
Importance

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Customer and Personal Service
54%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Top 10 Skills

Active Listening
60%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking
60%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making
60%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring
58%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension
58%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Speaking
58%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Time Management
58%
Importance

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Complex Problem Solving
55%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Social Perceptiveness
55%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination
53%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Top 10 Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness
78%
Importance

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Control Precision
73%
Importance

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Manual Dexterity
73%
Importance

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Near Vision
73%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Finger Dexterity
70%
Importance

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Extent Flexibility
65%
Importance

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Multilimb Coordination
65%
Importance

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Trunk Strength
65%
Importance

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

Visualization
65%
Importance

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Category Flexibility
63%
Importance

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Top 10 Work Activities

Controlling Machines and Processes
91%
Importance

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Handling and Moving Objects
91%
Importance

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
90%
Importance

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
88%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
87%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Performing General Physical Activities
87%
Importance

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
83%
Importance

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Getting Information
83%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
83%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Training and Teaching Others
83%
Importance

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
  • Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Apply decorative masonry finishes.
  • Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
  • Attach decorative or functional accessories to products.

Education

Interests

Realistic
100%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Artistic
55%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Conventional
50%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Investigative
25%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Social
18%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Enterprising
15%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Work Values

Support
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Achievement
48%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
41%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Independence
39%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Recognition
34%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Relationships
29%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.