Stone polisher
Also known as: marble polisher, stone polishing machine operative, hand grinder, stone polishing worker, worktop polisher, hand stone polisher
About this occupation
Stone polishers operate grinding and polishing tools and equipment in order to smooth stones.
Essential skills and knowledge
- inspect stone surface
- types of stone for working
- measure materials
- supply machine with appropriate tools
- supply machine
- polish stone surfaces
- quality and cycle time optimisation
- troubleshoot
- remove processed workpiece
- use abrasive wheel
- personal protective equipment
- ensure equipment availability
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing (O*NET 51-9195.03). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Shape, trim, or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings.
- Verify depths and dimensions of cuts or carvings to ensure adherence to specifications, blueprints, or models, using measuring instruments.
- Move fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish.
- Lay out designs or dimensions from sketches or blueprints on stone surfaces, freehand or by transferring them from tracing paper, using scribes or chalk and measuring instruments.
- Drill holes and cut or carve moldings and grooves in stone, according to diagrams and patterns.
- Remove or add stencils during blasting to create differing cut depths, intricate designs, or rough, pitted finishes.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Artistic, Conventional
Top skills: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Monitoring
US median pay: US$46,170 a year (2025), 33,190 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (3.6)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.1)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.1)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Stonemasons
- Tile and Stone Setters
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- Furniture Finishers
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
- Etchers and Engravers
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.