Stonemason
Use your manual skills to carve blocks of stone, or lay and fit stonework into place on building projects.
About the job
What it's like
You'd use your manual skills to carve blocks of stone, or lay and fit stonework into place on building projects.
You'd normally work as either a banker mason in a workshop, or a fixer mason on site. The skills needed for each overlap, but the focus of your job would be different.
As a banker mason, you'd:
follow design instructions
carve and shape stone
give stone a textured or polished finish (known as dressing)
use hand and power tools
As a fixer mason, you'd:
build walls
fit cladding using specialised materials and methods
repair stonework
In either specialism you might:
repair old buildings and monuments
carve or repair statues or headstones
make and fit stonework such as window frames, archways and ornamental garden pieces
As the job is so varied, you'd learn to work with many materials such as sandstone, limestone, slate, marble and granite.
It would be essential to follow health and safety rules at all times.
Hours
You'd normally work 39 hours a week, with occasional overtime to meet deadlines.
Environment
As a banker mason, you'd have a workshop, which could get noisy and dusty. You'd use protective equipment, such as safety boots, ear defenders and goggles. As a fixer mason, you'd be outdoors in all weather conditions on building sites, sometimes working at heights. In both cases, you'd have to lift heavy materials and equipment.
Travel
As a fixer mason, you may travel from job to job. You'd usually use a van for this.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- masonry
- power tool operation
- hand tools
- stonemasonry
- carpentry
- roofing
- chisels
- sawing
- working at heights
- drilling
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- managing resources
- developing a plan
- concentrating
- attention to detail
- innovative
- designing
- creative
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Design and Manufacture
Environmental Science
Practical Craft Skills
Skills for Work: Construction Craft
Skills for Work: Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering
You'd do a Modern Apprenticeship recognised by the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this Apprenticeship but most employers value a good general education and some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF Level 4/5.
You usually have to take an aptitude test as part of the entry process.
Qualifications and experience that show practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF Level 4/5).
You could enter this profession after gaining practical experience on site as a labourer.
You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent and pass a health and safety test to train or work on construction sites.
A driving licence may be required for some jobs.
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