Quarry Worker

Typical Salary

£16,000 To £25,000

Typical Hours

53 to 55 a week

weekends on shifts

How To Become a Quarry Worker

You can get into this job through:

an apprenticeship
applying directly

College / University

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as a mineral processing mobile and static plant operator.

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got experience or qualifications in construction, mining, or operating heavy machinery like mechanical diggers.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

the ability to work on your own
to enjoy working with other people
the ability to work well with your hands
physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
sensitivity and understanding
the ability to work well with others
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
physical fitness and endurance
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

using mechanical diggers to excavate rock, clay, sand, gravel and slate
operating equipment like rock crushers and stone graders
using drilling equipment
maintaining vehicles and machinery
setting and detonating explosives
transporting materials in large trucks

Working Environment

You could work at a quarry.

Your working environment may be cramped, physically demanding, dusty and dirty.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression

With training and experience, you could become a site supervisor, mineral products technician or quarry manager. You could also move into:

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

A relevant driving licence, for example a large goods vehicle or plant operator's licence, may give you an advantage when looking for work.

Further information

You can get more advice about working in the quarrying industry from Careers in Quarrying.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

have a driving licence that includes LGV for lorries, or PCV for buses, if you work with these vehicles

You may need your own transport to get to work, as quarries are usually in the countryside.