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Stonemason

Stonemasons carve blocks of stone, and lay and fit stonework into place on construction projects.

Average annual salary

£15,000 to £35,000

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Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

Entry requirements:

College

You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed to get a trainee job with a building company. Courses include:

  • Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills
  • Level 2 Diploma in Craft Masonry
  • Level 3 Diploma in Stonemasonry - Banker (Construction)

Entry requirements:

  • 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could do a stonemason intermediate apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship has pathways for different types of stonemasonry work, for example:

  • interior stone fixing, often used for floors, wet rooms and kitchens
  • memorial stonemasonry
  • exterior stone fixing on buildings and structures
  • heritage stonemasonry for conserving historic memorials and buildings

This typically takes 24 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and off-the-job study.

Entry requirements:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Work

You could start as a construction labourer and take further training with your employer to get a qualification in stonemasonry.

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Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • knowledge of building and construction
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • knowledge of maths
  • physical skills like movement, coordination and dexterity
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • persistence and determination
  • leadership skills
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • physical fitness and endurance
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • design skills and knowledge
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • active listening skills
  • complex problem-solving skills
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What you'll do:

Stonemasons carve blocks of stone, and lay and fit stonework into place on construction projects.

You’ll be working with materials like sandstone, limestone, slate, marble and granite. In your day-to-day duties you may:

  • build stone walls or fit cladding using mortar and specialist fixings
  • repair damaged stonework on old buildings and monuments
  • carve or repair statues or memorial headstones
  • make and fit stonework like window frames, archways and ornamental garden pieces

Location : You could work on a construction site or in a workshop.
Environment : Your working environment may be at height, outdoors some of the time, dusty, noisy and physically demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

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Salary:

Starter : £15,000
Experienced : £35,000

These figures are a guide

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Working hours:

43 - 45 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends occasionally

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Career Path:

With experience, you could progress to supervisory jobs like site supervisor or clerk of works.

You could also set up your own stonemasonry business.

You could also move into a related area, like estimating and construction management.

With further training, you could work as a stonemason or bricklaying instructor at a further education college or training centre.

Find out more about teaching in further education from Teach in further education .

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