Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Rock splitters, quarry work in a specialized niche with a relatively small national workforce of about 3,000 people. The national median annual salary is $47,460, with some states and metro areas offering higher pay. Projected employment growth of 4.4% indicates that the occupation is expected to expand from its current base. Although reported annual openings are 0, existing positions and anticipated growth suggest that opportunities may still arise through new roles or movement within the field. This career emphasizes a mix of physical capabilities and technical abilities, including physical strength and stamina, mechanical skills, and fine motor control. It also values science, mathematics, interpersonal skills, and the ability to use computers and information technology. People considering this path can look at top-opportunity states like California and Massachusetts, or metros like St. Louis, MO-IL, for potentially stronger market conditions and higher pay levels within this occupation.
For rock splitters, quarry, the national median annual salary is $47,460, providing a baseline for evaluating earning potential. Salaries vary meaningfully by state. California offers a median salary of $61,620, while Massachusetts stands out with a median salary of $66,000. Minnesota also provides higher-than-national pay at $57,970. Colorado and Pennsylvania are closer to the national level, with median salaries of $46,590 and $48,580, respectively. Metro-level data also shows differences: in St. Louis, MO-IL, the median salary is $60,990; in Springfield, MO, it is $54,930; and in Bloomington, IN, it is $49,040. These figures indicate that location choices can significantly influence earnings in this occupation, with some states and metro areas offering substantially higher median wages than the national median for rock splitters, quarry.
Rock splitters, quarry have national employment of about 3,000 workers and a projected employment growth rate of 4.4%. This growth rate suggests that total employment in the field is expected to rise over time. At the same time, annual openings are reported as 0, which indicates that the data does not reflect a consistent number of new or replacement positions each year. Because both current employment and projected growth are specified, it is reasonable to view this as a relatively small but growing occupation. States and metro areas listed with growth of 4.4%—including California, Massachusetts, Colorado, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and metros like St. Louis, MO-IL; Bloomington, IN; and Springfield, MO—mirror the national projected growth rate. People evaluating this career should consider that opportunities may be concentrated in certain locations rather than spread evenly nationwide.
Location plays a major role in opportunities for rock splitters, quarry. Among states, California and Massachusetts rank highest by opportunity score, at 67.38 and 65.87, respectively. They also offer the highest median salaries, $61,620 in California and $66,000 in Massachusetts. California employs about 290 workers in this role, while Massachusetts employs about 90. Colorado, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania show opportunity scores between 47 and 57, with median salaries ranging from $46,590 in Colorado to $57,970 in Minnesota and $48,580 in Pennsylvania. Employment in these states ranges from 80 to 260. At the metro level, St. Louis, MO-IL has the highest opportunity score of 46.90, with 100 employed and a median salary of $60,990. Bloomington, IN and Springfield, MO offer smaller employment bases (40 and 30) and opportunity scores from about 39 to 41. These differences highlight varying combinations of pay, employment size, and opportunity score across regions.
The typical education requirement for rock splitters, quarry is no formal educational credential. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who may not have completed traditional academic programs but are ready to develop relevant capabilities on the job. Success in this role relies heavily on a defined set of skills. Physical strength and stamina are important, along with fine motor skills and mechanical abilities. The occupation also draws on science and mathematics, suggesting that comfort with basic quantitative and scientific thinking can be beneficial. Interpersonal skills, creativity and innovation, and being detail oriented support effective work and problem-solving in quarry environments. Speaking and listening are important for communication, and competence with computers and information technology rounds out the skill profile. Individuals who build or already possess this mix of physical, technical, and interpersonal skills may be well positioned to pursue opportunities as rock splitters, quarry.
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