Rock splitters, quarry salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Mean (average) | $51,500 | $24.76 |
| 90th percentile | $67,710 | $32.55 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Rock splitters, quarry pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 21 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Data unavailable | 150 | 5.36 | ||
| California | $61,620 | $49,620 | $89,380 | 290 | 0.75 |
| Colorado | $46,590 | $45,230 | $55,540 | 100 | 1.56 |
| Georgia | $42,320 | $33,410 | $52,940 | 30 | 0.33 |
| Idaho | $35,880 | $29,950 | $45,120 | 90 | 5.03 |
| Indiana | $49,890 | $37,750 | $66,580 | 220 | 3.16 |
| Kansas | $42,560 | $37,700 | $46,280 | ||
| Kentucky | $44,000 | $38,310 | $52,890 | 310 | 7.27 |
| Massachusetts | $66,000 | $44,870 | $71,880 | 90 | 1.13 |
| Minnesota | $57,970 | $53,080 | $61,690 | 80 | 1.23 |
| Missouri | $60,990 | $40,580 | $70,710 | 280 | 4.51 |
| Montana | $46,260 | $38,520 | $58,570 | 100 | 8.73 |
| North Carolina | $56,320 | $45,650 | $68,000 | 80 | 0.77 |
| Ohio | $48,560 | $39,480 | $53,340 | 50 | 0.4 |
| Oklahoma | $45,040 | $28,510 | $56,500 | 200 | 5.61 |
| Oregon | $59,760 | $49,920 | $80,460 | 50 | 1.21 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,580 | $44,140 | $64,840 | 260 | 1.98 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,810 | $21,840 | $27,930 | 70 | 3.51 |
| Tennessee | $48,160 | $38,090 | $60,030 | 300 | 4.28 |
| Vermont | $65,420 | $60,360 | $78,920 | ||
| Wisconsin | $62,000 | $55,770 | $93,320 | 40 | 0.61 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for rock splitters, quarry
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.4%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for rock splitters, quarry
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Apache HTTP Server
- Maintenance reporting software
- Minitab
- Time reporting software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Driller, Quarry Worker, Rock Splitter, Splitter Operator, Stone Breaker, Stone Splitter.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do rock splitters, quarry make?
The national median annual wage for rock splitters, quarry was $48,740 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,340 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $67,710. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do rock splitters, quarry need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is rock splitters, quarry a growing career?
BLS projects employment of rock splitters, quarry to change +5.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay rock splitters, quarry the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($66,000), Vermont ($65,420), Wisconsin ($62,000). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.