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Commercial Construction
Turner Construction, DPR Construction, Skanska
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Brickmasons and blockmasons build and repair walls, chimneys, partitions, and other structures using brick, concrete block, and mortar. The job is exacting because straight lines, level courses, and clean joints matter just as much as speed, so a small mistake can show in the finished wall. The tradeoff is solid pay without a degree, but the work is heavy, outdoors, and hard on the body.
Also known as MasonBricklayerBlock MasonBrick and Block MasonMasonry Worker
Median Salary
$60,800
Mean $65,390
U.S. Workforce
~54K
5.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.2%
74.1K to 76.4K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Brickmasons and Blockmasons sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~54K workers, with a median annual pay of $60,800 and roughly 5.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 74.1 K in 2024 to 76.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Masonry Helper and can progress toward Masonry Foreman. High-value skills usually include Mortar Mixing, Trowels & Joint Finishing, Layout, Leveling & Plumb Line Work, and Brick and Block Cutting Tools, paired with soft skills such as Coordination, Critical Thinking, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Spread mortar and set brick or block into place for walls, columns, and other structures.
- Cut bricks and blocks to fit corners, openings, and odd-shaped sections.
- Measure, mark, and check each row so the wall stays straight, plumb, and level.
- Build corner leads and run guide lines to keep the masonry aligned as it rises.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Spread mortar and set brick or block into place for walls, columns, and other structures.
02 Cut bricks and blocks to fit corners, openings, and odd-shaped sections.
03 Measure, mark, and check each row so the wall stays straight, plumb, and level.
04 Build corner leads and run guide lines to keep the masonry aligned as it rises.
05 Mix mortar and other bonding materials to the right consistency for the job.
06 Remove damaged masonry, clean away old material, and prepare surfaces for repairs.
Industries That Hire
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Residential Homebuilding
D.R. Horton, Lennar, PulteGroup
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Infrastructure and Public Works
Kiewit, Granite Construction, Flatiron Construction
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Historic Restoration and Preservation
Gilbane Building Company, The Christman Company, Consigli Construction
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Industrial Construction
Bechtel, Fluor, Hensel Phelps
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the trade with a high school diploma, and many workers learn through apprenticeship instead of college.
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Pay is solid for a hands-on trade, with a median wage of $60,800 and a mean wage of $65,390.
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There are about 5.6 thousand annual openings, so employers regularly need new workers and replacements.
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The work teaches practical skills you can use across homes, commercial buildings, repairs, and restoration projects.
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You get clear, visible results at the end of the day, which is satisfying if you like building something permanent.
Challenges
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The work is physically demanding: heavy blocks, awkward positions, kneeling, lifting, and long hours on your feet can wear you down.
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Most jobs are outdoors or in unfinished buildings, so weather, heat, cold, and dust are part of the job.
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Growth is only 3.2% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is not expanding quickly.
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The career ladder can be narrow unless you move into foreman work, estimating, or run your own crew.
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Some wall systems are prefabricated or built with faster methods, which can limit how much on-site masonry work is available in some markets.
Career Progression
Masonry Helper
0-2 years
$32K-$44K
Carries materials, mixes mortar, and learns the basics of safe and accurate masonry work.
Apprentice Brickmason
1-4 years
$45K-$59K
Works under close supervision while practicing cuts, alignment, and scaffold safety on active jobs.
Brickmason and Blockmason THIS ROLE
3-8 years
$60K-$76K
Builds walls, lays block and brick, and handles layout and repairs with less oversight.
Masonry Foreman
7-15 years
$77K-$96K
Leads crews, checks quality, coordinates materials, and keeps masonry work on schedule.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 70.42% of workers in this role.
Apprenticeship
A common training route for learning the trade on the job while earning a paycheck, especially for people who want hands-on experience instead of college.
Some college courses
An alternate path used by 13.38% of workers, often paired with construction coursework or related vocational classes.
Less than a high school diploma
A smaller share of workers, 13.48%, entered with less than a high school diploma, usually by learning through jobsite experience.
Key Skills
Technical
Mortar Mixing, Trowels & Joint Finishing 86%
Layout, Leveling & Plumb Line Work 84%
Brick and Block Cutting Tools 82%
Blueprint Reading & Field Measurements 80%
Scaffolding, Ladders & Fall Protection 78%
Masonry Repair & Demolition Tools 76%
Soft Skills
CoordinationCritical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringSpeakingTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+3.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 74.1K to 76.4 K over the next decade, representing 3.2% growth. Around 5.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.