stone driller
Key facts
Shape the raw beauty of stone into functional works of art as a stone driller. This foundational role involves precision and careful operation of drilling equipment to prepare stone blocks for various construction and design projects.
As a stone driller, you'll be responsible for creating precise holes and patterns in stone materials like granite, sandstone, marble, and slate. Your work is crucial in preparing these materials for cutting, shaping, and ultimately, their use in buildings, monuments, and decorative elements. You'll follow detailed specifications and work carefully to ensure accuracy and quality in every project.
- • Operating drilling machines to bore holes into stone blocks according to provided plans and measurements.
- • Selecting appropriate drill bits and adjusting machine settings for different stone types and project requirements.
- • Inspecting stone blocks for flaws and ensuring the drilled holes meet quality standards.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Stationary plant and machine operators — 259 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Denmark, Slovakia.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
Explore More
Find your career path and explore the science behind our recommendations.
Could stone driller fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Independence?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Future Outlook for stone driller
The outlook for stone driller reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could stone driller change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could stone driller change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- optimise production processes parameters
- troubleshoot
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- supply machine with appropriate tools
- remove processed workpiece
- maneuver stone blocks
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Construction
A typical day as a stone driller
09 09:00 · Morning maneuver stone blocks
10 10:30 · Mid-morning operate drilling equipment
12 12:00 · Midday operate drill press
14 14:00 · Afternoon optimise production processes parameters
15 15:30 · Late afternoon remove processed workpiece
17 17:00 · Wrap-up set up the controller of a machine
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
-
quality and cycle time optimisation
The most optimal rotation or cycle time and over-all quality of a tool or a machine's processes.
-
quality standards
The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
-
types of boring heads
Qualities and applications of various types of boring heads, such as rough boring heads, fine boring heads and others.
-
types of drill bits
Qualities and applications of various types of drill bits, such as core drill bits, spotting drill bits, countersink drill bits and others.
-
types of stone for working
Different types of stone that stonemasons and other stone workers use to process into building materials. The mechanical properties of stone, such as their weight, tensile strength, durability. Economical properties such as cost, transport and sourcing.
-
mechanics
Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.
- quality and cycle time optimisation
- quality standards
- types of boring heads
-
supply machine with appropriate tools
Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.
-
remove processed workpiece
Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.
-
optimise production processes parameters
Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
-
troubleshoot
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
-
operate drill press
Operate a semi-automated, semi-manual drill press to drill holes in a work piece, safely and according to regulations.
-
supply machine
Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
-
maneuver stone blocks
Place blocks of stone in the correct position of the machine bed using electric hoist, wooden blocks and wedges.
-
set up the controller of a machine
Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
-
operate drilling equipment
Operate a range of drilling equipment, pneumatic as well as electrical and mechanical. Tend drilling equipment, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. Safely and efficiently drill holes using the correct equipment, settings, and drill bits.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how stone driller aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
Scan to continue on mobileGrowth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does stone driller fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of physical demands are involved in being a stone driller?
- The role requires physical stamina as it often involves standing for extended periods and operating machinery. You’ll need to be comfortable lifting and maneuvering stone materials, and working in environments that may be dusty or noisy.
- Are there any specific safety precautions I should be aware of?
- Safety is paramount. You'll be required to wear personal protective equipment, including eye and ear protection, and follow strict safety protocols to prevent injuries from dust, noise, and machinery operation. Proper training on equipment use is essential.
- What is the typical work environment for a stone driller?
- Stone drillers typically work in stone quarries, workshops, or construction sites. The environment can be outdoors or indoors, and may involve exposure to dust, noise, and varying weather conditions.
- Stone Driller — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 3 of the 4 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Finland, Latvia. One country reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Stone Driller — what does it pay in the United States?
- $59,600 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $45,560 to $80,490. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.