Rock Splitters, Quarry
Low16.50%
Salary Range
Low (10th %)$32,050
Median$46,530
High (90th %)$64,020
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Separate blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammers, wedges, or chop saws.
The occupation "Rock Splitters, Quarry" has a relatively low automation risk of 16.5%, only slightly below its base risk estimate of 16.7%. This low risk is primarily due to the physical and nuanced nature of much of the work, as well as the variable working conditions found at quarry sites. While advancements in robotics and automation have made certain labor-intensive tasks more mechanizable, a significant portion of the role still relies on visual judgment, manual skill, and adapting to irregular stone formations, which are challenging for machines to replicate with consistent accuracy and safety. Among the most automatable tasks for Rock Splitters in quarries are those involving repetitive, force-based actions. These include locating grain line patterns to determine how rocks will split when cut, removing pieces of stone from larger masses using jackhammers and similar tools, and inserting wedges and feathers into holes before driving them with sledgehammers to break the stone apart. These activities involve patterns or repeated motions that can, in theory, be programmed into specialized machinery, enabling the automation of the heaviest labor components of the role. However, key aspects of this occupation remain resistant to automation due to the demand for on-the-spot problem-solving and dexterity. Tasks such as cutting grooves along outlines with chisels, drilling holes into stones and coordinating their removal, and drilling holes along outlines using jackhammers all require significant human oversight and tactile skill. Bottleneck skills like originality—rated at a low level of only 2.0% and 1.9% for different aspects—highlight that when unique challenges or unexpected situations arise, human workers are still far more effective at adapting tools and techniques than automated systems. This human adaptability is a major factor keeping the automation risk for this occupation relatively low.
Filter by Automatable Status
Locate grain line patterns to determine how rocks will split when cut.
Partially Automatable
Remove pieces of stone from larger masses, using jackhammers, wedges, and other tools.
Non-Automatable
Insert wedges and feathers into holes, and drive wedges with sledgehammers to split stone sections from masses.
Non-Automatable
Mark dimensions or outlines on stone prior to cutting, using rules and chalk lines.
Partially Automatable
Cut slabs of stone into sheets that will be used for floors or counters.
Partially Automatable
Set charges of explosives to split rock.
Non-Automatable
Drill holes into sides of stones broken from masses, insert dogs or attach slings, and direct removal of stones.
Non-Automatable
Cut grooves along outlines, using chisels.
Non-Automatable
Drill holes along outlines, using jackhammers.
Non-Automatable
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersDocumenting/Recording InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
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Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Low19.41%
Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.
Stonemasons
Low4.35%
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry for vats, tanks, and floors.
Tile and Stone Setters
Low13.80%
Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Low15.23%
Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
Low9.52%
Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.
Construction Laborers
Low21.08%
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Segmental Pavers
Low12.33%
Lay out, cut, and place segmental paving units. Includes installers of bedding and restraining materials for the paving units.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
Low27.15%
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Medium37.50%
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Low31.32%
Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.
Helpers--Extraction Workers
Low24.71%
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area.
Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Medium45.76%
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Medium39.82%
Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Medium37.16%
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Medium44.55%
Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Medium40.69%
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
Medium56.41%
Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium44.55%
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Medium44.30%
Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
Low13.87%
Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.
Fallers
Low19.26%
Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
Gem and Diamond Workers
Medium45.82%
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.