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Rock Splitters, Quarry: Career Overview
Separate blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammers, wedges, or chop saws.
What Do Rock Splitters, Quarry Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of rock splitters, quarry span:
- Locate grain line patterns to determine how rocks will split when cut.
- Remove pieces of stone from larger masses, using jackhammers, wedges, and other tools.
- Insert wedges and feathers into holes, and drive wedges with sledgehammers to split stone sections from masses.
- Mark dimensions or outlines on stone prior to cutting, using rules and chalk lines.
What Rock Splitters, Quarry Need to Know
Successful rock splitters, quarry combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Rock Splitters, Quarry Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Driller
- Quarry Chop Saw Operator
- Quarry Driller
- Quarry Plug and Feather Driller
- Quarry Worker
- Quarrying Specialist
- Rock Breaker
- Rock Picker
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 715,847 rock splitters, quarry working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -2.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Rock Splitters, Quarry
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $76,194 |
| Hourly median | $36.63 |
| 10th percentile | $51,238 |
| 25th percentile | $63,716 |
| 75th percentile | $88,672 |
| 90th percentile | $101,150 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $65,350 |
| Massachusetts | $64,590 |
| California | $63,110 |
| Illinois | $61,140 |
| Minnesota | $58,740 |
| North Carolina | $57,710 |
| Missouri | $55,170 |
| Indiana | $53,430 |
| Iowa | $48,630 |
| Oklahoma | $47,130 |
| Colorado | $46,180 |
| Georgia | $46,160 |
| Arkansas | $45,030 |
| Tennessee | $44,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,880 |
| Ohio | $43,940 |
| Montana | $41,660 |
| Kansas | $41,000 |
| Kentucky | $39,130 |
| Maryland | $38,770 |
| Idaho | $35,480 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,500 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for rock splitters, quarry vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $64,590 | 2.5% | 0.80 |
| Far Western US | $63,900 | 7.1% | 0.71 |
| Plains States | $52,092 | 27.4% | 3.92 |
| Great Lakes | $50,662 | 10.0% | 2.01 |
| Southwest | $47,130 | 10.8% | 7.75 |
| Southeast | $46,695 | 17.4% | 2.57 |
| Middle Atlantic | $44,007 | 11.6% | 1.80 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,736 | 11.2% | 3.42 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | MO | $49,740 | 30 |
| Bloomington, IN | IN | $47,510 | 40 |
| Topeka, KS | KS | $38,140 | 50 |
Top Industries Employing Rock Splitters, Quarry
Most rock splitters, quarry are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2,470 | $47,020 |
| Manufacturing | 470 | $50,320 |
| Construction | 50 | $57,820 |
Below are examples of industries where rock splitters, quarry work:
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for rock splitters, quarry tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
Getting Started in This Career
Most rock splitters, quarry positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Supplemental)
- Stonemasons (Supplemental)
- Tile and Stone Setters (Supplemental)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Primary-Long)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Pipelayers (Supplemental)
- Segmental Pavers (Supplemental)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-5051.00 (Rock Splitters, Quarry).
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