What is the average stonemason salary?
Stonemasons have a long tradition of providing highly skilled labour.
For those with the right skills, a stonemason salary as a business owner can be as much as £56,833 per year. It’s a niche trade for which you need years of training.
That’s why many builders and bricklayers learn the art of stonemasonry. It’s a skill that provides valuable additional income.
It also means you are equipped to complete building and construction projects where stonemason skills are required yourself, without having to call in specialist help.
What is a stonemason salary?
You can start earning as a stonemason while you are training to be one. A stonemason salary will be determined by your level of experience.
Average earnings across the UK can roughly be estimated as:
| Level | Per hour | Per day | Per year | Business Costs* | Approximate Take Home Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | £6.30 | £50.40 | £11,063 | 0 | £10,715 |
| Newly Qualified | £18.19 | £145.52 | £31,942 | 0 | £25,214 |
| Employed | £19.28 | £154.24 | £40,102 | 0 | £30,763 |
| Sole Trader | £38 | £304 | £56,052 | £7,006 | £37,589 |
| Business Owner (ltd company) | £38.53 | £308.24 | £56,833 | £9,946 | £37,508 |
| *includes estimated costs for business expenses such as vehicle, tools, insurance, fuel etc | |||||
Last updated: May 2024
What work is available for stonemasons?
Stonemasons work with a range of natural materials that typically include:
- Granite
- Limestone
- Marble
- Quartz
- Sandstone
- Slate
Types of stonemason work
Stonemasons’ skills can be seen in buildings, gardens and landscapes. The wide range of work they undertake includes:
- Carving stone for statues, monuments and headstones
- Conserving and restoring historical monuments and buildings
- Working with stone for floors
- Building stone walls
- Repairing damaged stonework on buildings and other structures
- Making ornamental stone features for buildings and gardens
What stonemason skills you’ll need
If you’re thinking about becoming a stonemason, these are some of the key skills you’ll need:
- Good creative skills to create designs and make repairs
- Work well with your hands and have good physical skills
- Able to lift heavy materials and equipment
- Attention to detail and the ability to understand technical drawings
- Work well alone and in a team
- Good communication skills to discuss jobs and explain what you are doing
- Know about building and construction techniques
- Good with maths and calculations
- Computer skills – a lot of design work is done digitally nowadays
Where stonemasons work
One thing’s for sure in earning a stonemason salary, you could find yourself working in some unusual places. You could be working:
- In in workshop or yard
- On a construction site
- Inside or outside buildings
- Wherever memorial stones are located – which could be anywhere
- In hard-to-reach places
- At height
You’re likely to need:
- Safety clothing and equipment
- A Construction Skills Certification Scheme card if you work on a building site
What is an apprentice stonemason wage?
To get started on your journey to becoming a stonemason you’ll need to learn a lot. Apprenticeships are a great place to begin. As well as qualifications, you’ll pick up essential practical experience.
Many employers offer people apprenticeships, so you can earn as you learn. Apprenticeships usually take up to two years to complete.
There are lots of courses you can apply for. You’ll also find options from City & Guilds options. These include:
- Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills
- Level 2 Diploma in Craft Masonry
- Level 3 Diploma in Stonemasonry – Banker (Construction)
An apprentice can earn £11,063 per year. That works out at about £50.40 per day.
What is a newly qualified stonemason pay?
After you pass your qualification and are more experienced, you’ll earn more.
A newly qualified stonemason salary is around £31,942 per year.
The daily rate if you’re newly qualified is approximately £145.52 per day. That’s almost three times as much as an apprentice.
It really shows how valued this highly skilled role is in the construction and craft industries.
What is the stonemason average salary?
As you gain experience, your salary should continue rising. Master stonemason pay if you work for a company would average £40,102 per year. Putting that in daily terms, you could be earning £154.24 per day.
Of course, with all these skills and experience under your belt, you might want to go it alone.
A stonemason salary for a sole trader is about £56,052 per year. But bear in mind that you’ll have to pay your own business costs.
Another option for tradespeople is to set up a limited company. As the business owner and director of your company, your stonemason salary would be in the order of £56,833 per year.
Growing your stonemason business
If you want support starting your stonemason business or help growing, we can help.
Checkatrade members receive our help with new enquiries. There are lots of other benefits of Checkatrade membership too.
Such as:
- Dedicated membership advice team
- Work guarantee up to £1,000
- Exclusive offers and discounts
- Up to 20% off Public Liability Insurance
- Reduced cost of workwear and branding
- Savings on other business essentials such as vans, fuel and materials
Key takeaways
- Stonemasons work with various materials and often in many different locations
- Stonemasons create work in stone and also repair or maintain it
- A stonemason salary depends on your level of skill
- A master stonemason pay will be more than for newly qualified apprentice stonemasons but take longer to achieve
- If you’re a sole trader or run a limited company then a stonemason average salary is calculated after making deductions for your business expenses
Want to get more work for your stonemason business?
Enjoy more job opportunities as a Checkatrade member
Content disclaimer: This content has been created for general information purposes and should not be taken as formal advice. Read our full disclaimer here.
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