Separate blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammer and wedges.
U.S. Workers
3,080
Median Salary
$47,460
10-Year Growth
+4.4%
Annual Openings
400
Typical entry: No formal educational credential
8 of 9 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Cut slabs of stone into sheets that will be used for floors or counters.
AI: Fully automatable - Cutting stone slabs into sheets is already commonly performed by computer‑controlled saws and waterjet/CNC systems and is fully automatable in industrial settings.
Mark dimensions or outlines on stone prior to cutting, using rules and chalk lines.
AI: Fully automatable - Marking dimensions and outlines is a precise, repeatable task readily handled by CNC layout systems, laser projectors and robotic marking tools available today.
Locate grain line patterns to determine how rocks will split when cut.
AI: Partial - AI vision and modeling can assist in identifying grain lines and fracture tendencies, but field variability and safety-critical judgment mean it only partially replaces human expertise today.
Drill holes along outlines, using jackhammers.
AI: Partial - Automated and remotely operated drilling rigs exist and AI can assist/partially automate jackhammer/drilling guidance, but robust fully autonomous jackhammering in variable quarry conditions is not widely reliable yet.
Drill holes into sides of stones broken from masses, insert dogs or attach slings, and direct removal of stones.
AI: Partial - Robotic manipulators and teleoperation can assist with attaching slings and directing removal, but complex, unpredictable rigging and on-site judgement mean full autonomous performance is not yet assured.
Remove pieces of stone from larger masses, using jackhammers, wedges, and other tools.
AI: Partial - Removing stone pieces with jackhammers and wedges can be mechanized, but fully autonomous execution in varied quarry environments remains limited in 2025.
Insert wedges and feathers into holes, and drive wedges with sledgehammers to split stone sections from masses.
AI: Partial - Inserting wedges and driving them requires precise, forceful manual dexterity in variable conditions, so AI/robotics can assist or be tele‑operated but not yet fully autonomous broadly.
Cut grooves along outlines, using chisels.
AI: Partial - Robotic tooling can cut grooves and perform chiseling in controlled setups, but variable stone properties and fine manual adjustments keep this at partial automation capability in real quarries.
Set charges of explosives to split rock.
AI: Not automatable - Setting explosive charges is a high-risk, tightly regulated task requiring human judgement, certification, and manual placement that AI systems cannot fully perform autonomously as of 2025.