Brick & Block Mason

Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median salary of $58,040, with experienced professionals bringing home over $87,000 per year.

Masonry is one of the oldest construction trades, and the demand for skilled masons remains steady – 5,600 positions open annually across the country. If you take pride in precision craftsmanship and want to build structures that last for centuries, masonry offers a career where the quality of your work is visible in every wall, arch, and facade you lay.

What Does a Brick and Block Mason Do?

Brickmasons and blockmasons lay and bind building materials – brick, concrete block, structural tile, glass block, stone, and terra-cotta – with mortar to construct or repair walls, foundations, partitions, chimneys, fireplaces, arches, and other structures. The work requires precise measurements, an eye for alignment, and the physical ability to handle heavy materials all day.

Core responsibilities include:

• Laying brick and block: Setting individual masonry units in mortar beds according to blueprints, bond patterns, and specifications. Each unit must be level, plumb, and properly spaced.
• Mortar mixing and application: Preparing mortar to the correct consistency and applying it using trowels. Different jobs require different mortar mixes (Type N, S, M) depending on structural requirements.
• Blueprint reading and layout: Interpreting architectural drawings to determine wall placement, dimensions, bond patterns, and material requirements. Laying out reference lines and corner leads.
• Cutting and shaping: Using masonry saws, chisels, and grinders to cut bricks and blocks to fit around openings, corners, and irregular spaces.
• Scaffolding: Building and adjusting scaffolding as the wall rises. Masons must be comfortable working at heights on scaffold platforms.
• Structural reinforcement: Installing metal ties, anchors, rebar, and reinforcing wire in masonry walls as required by building codes.
• Pointing and grouting: Filling joints with mortar, tooling joint profiles, and grouting reinforced masonry cells.
• Restoration and repair: Repointing deteriorated mortar joints, replacing damaged bricks, and matching historical masonry patterns on restoration projects.
• Veneer installation: Applying thin brick or stone veneer to existing walls for decorative purposes.

Masons often specialize in either structural masonry (load-bearing walls, foundations, commercial block work) or decorative/finish masonry (face brick, stone veneer, fireplaces, arches). Restoration masonry – repairing and matching historical brick and stone – is a premium specialty.

A Day in the Life of a Brick and Block Mason

You arrive at a residential job site at 7:00 AM. Today, you are building the front facade of a two-story house in face brick – a running bond pattern with soldier course accents above the windows. Your tender (laborer/helper) has already started mixing the first batch of mortar and stacking bricks on the scaffold.

The first task is checking the layout. You pull a string line tight between corner leads – the small, stepped sections of brick you built up at each corner yesterday. The string line ensures every course is perfectly straight across the wall. You butter the end of a brick with mortar, press it into the bed joint, tap it level with the handle of your trowel, and scrape off the excess mortar in one smooth motion. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. A skilled mason lays 400 to 500 bricks per day, and the rhythm becomes almost meditative.

By mid-morning, you are three courses above the scaffold deck. The sun is hitting the wall, and the mortar is setting faster than usual. You adjust the mix – a little more water to buy working time. At each window opening, you stop to install a steel lintel and carefully lay the soldier course above it, standing each brick on end. These details define the quality of the finished wall.

Lunch is at noon. Your shoulders ache from the overhead reaching, and your knees are sore from kneeling on the scaffold platform. The mortar dust has settled into every crease of your hands.

After lunch, you move to the side elevation – straight running bond, no decorative features, just production work. You pick up speed. Your tender keeps the mortar and bricks coming. By 3:30 PM, you have laid roughly 460 bricks and the wall has risen eight courses. You clean up the scaffold, cover the fresh masonry with tarps in case of rain overnight, and head home. Tomorrow, you will start on the rear wall and build the fireplace chimney – the part of the job where your craftsmanship really shows.

Brick and Block Mason Salary and Job Outlook

National Salary Overview

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 data.

Salary by Experience Level

• Apprentice / Entry-level (0-3 years): $34,824 - $46,432. Apprentices and helpers learn the fundamentals while earning a livable wage.
• Journeyman (4-10 years): $58,040 - $69,648. Fully qualified masons who can lay clean, fast work earn solid middle-class incomes.
• Master Mason / Foreman (10+ years): $69,648 - $87,060+. Foremen, restoration specialists, and self-employed contractors command the highest rates. Masons who run their own crews can earn $100,000+ in good markets.

Top-Paying States for Brickmasons

Job Outlook

The BLS projects a 3% decline in masonry employment through 2032. However, the 5,600 annual openings are driven primarily by retirements and turnover – the existing workforce is aging, and fewer young workers are entering the trade. This creates opportunity: fewer competitors means more leverage for skilled masons. Restoration and decorative masonry work remain strong as historic buildings need maintenance and upscale residential construction continues to demand quality brickwork.

How to Become a Brick and Block Mason

Education Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is the standard entry requirement. Math skills (fractions, geometry, measuring), physical education, and any shop classes are useful preparation.

Training Pathways

The Union Apprenticeship Path

The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) and the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation (IMTEF) operate apprenticeship programs across the country. The typical program runs three to four years and includes:

• 144+ hours of classroom instruction per year (masonry materials, blueprint reading, layout, building codes)
• Hands-on practice building walls, arches, and corners at the training center
• On-the-job training with a journeyman on real construction projects
• Progressive wage increases every six months
• Health insurance and pension contributions from day one

Timeline

From start to fully qualified journeyman: 3-4 years through an apprenticeship, or 2-4 years through informal on-the-job learning (though informal training limits your credentials and earning potential).

Licensing and Certification

State Licensing

Most states do not license individual brickmasons, but many require contractor licensing for anyone running a masonry business. Contractor licenses typically require proof of experience, a trade exam, and liability insurance.

Valuable Certifications

Skills and Tools

Technical Skills

• Laying brick, block, and stone to precise tolerances (level, plumb, and in-line)
• Mortar mixing and application for various mortar types (N, S, M, O)
• Blueprint reading, layout, and measurement
• Cutting masonry units with saws, chisels, and grinders
• Building corners, leads, and arches
• Installing reinforcement (rebar, ties, anchors) per structural specifications
• Scaffold erection and safety
• Pointing, grouting, and joint finishing
• Historic restoration techniques (color matching, repointing, tuckpointing)

Soft Skills

• Precision and attention to detail – every brick must be level, plumb, and properly spaced
• Physical endurance for lifting 30-50 pound blocks repeatedly throughout the day
• Patience for repetitive, exacting work
• Eye for aesthetics in decorative and face brick work
• Teamwork with tenders, laborers, and other trades on the job site
• Time management to maintain production rates while ensuring quality

Common Tools and Equipment

• Trowels (brick trowel, margin trowel, pointing trowel)
• Levels (2-foot, 4-foot, and torpedo levels)
• String lines, corner blocks, and line pins
• Mason’s hammers and chisels
• Masonry saws (wet saws and hand-held grinders with diamond blades)
• Jointers and slickers for finishing joints
• Scaffolding (tubular frame, mast climbers)
• Mixing equipment (mortar mixers, mixing drills)
• Safety gear: hard hats, safety glasses, knee pads, gloves, dust masks

Work Environment

Where Brickmasons Work

Masons work on residential homes, commercial buildings, institutional structures (schools, hospitals), and restoration projects. Most work is outdoors, though some interior work (fireplaces, interior walls, elevator shafts) keeps you inside.

Schedule and Seasonal Work

Standard hours are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Overtime is common during busy periods. Masonry is one of the most weather-dependent trades. You cannot lay brick in freezing temperatures (mortar will not cure properly), and rain stops work immediately. In northern states, masons often experience reduced hours or layoffs from December through March. Southern states offer more consistent year-round work.

Physical Demands

Masonry is physically taxing work. You lift and place hundreds of bricks or blocks per day, each weighing 4-12 pounds (bricks) or 28-43 pounds (concrete blocks). The constant bending, kneeling, and reaching takes a toll on knees, backs, and shoulders over time. Working on scaffolding at heights adds fall risk. Mortar dust and silica exposure require respiratory protection during cutting operations.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Highly skilled craft with visible, lasting results
• Strong earning potential ($58,040 median; $87,060 at 90th percentile)
• Less competition from younger workers entering the trade
• Restoration and decorative work offers creative satisfaction
• Self-employment potential for experienced masons
• Union jobs provide health insurance, pension, and training

Cons:

• Highly seasonal in cold-weather regions (winter layoffs)
• Physically demanding – hard on knees, back, and shoulders over decades
• BLS projects slight employment decline (-3%)
• Weather-dependent: rain, extreme cold, and extreme heat all stop work
• Production pressure to lay fast while maintaining quality
• Silica dust exposure is a long-term health concern

Career Advancement

Specialization Options

• Restoration masonry – Repointing, tuckpointing, and matching historical brickwork. Premium rates for skilled work.
• Stone masonry – Natural stone veneer and structural stone. Higher skill ceiling and pay.
• Refractory masonry – Industrial furnace and kiln lining. Related to boilermaker work.
• Decorative masonry – Custom fireplaces, arches, and architectural features.
• Estimating and project management – Transitioning from the field to the office.

Related Careers

• Construction Worker – Median $42,960/year; entry point for many who later specialize
• Ironworker – Median $60,400/year; structural steel focus
• Carpenter – Median $56,350/year; wood-frame construction
• Construction Manager – $80,000-$120,000+; project oversight

Browse all Skilled Trades & Technical Careers.

Professional Associations and Resources

• International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) – Primary union for masons; runs apprenticeship programs and advocacy
• Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) – Trade association for masonry contractors; education and certification
• The Masonry Society (TMS) – Technical standards and research in masonry construction
• International Masonry Training and Education Foundation (IMTEF) – Apprenticeship training and curriculum development
• NCCER – National construction credentials including masonry certification
• Brick Industry Association (BIA) – Technical resources, design guides, and industry promotion

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do brickmasons make per hour?

The median hourly wage for brickmasons is approximately $27.90. In high-pay markets like New York and Chicago, union journeymen earn $35-$45+ per hour. Self-employed masons with established reputations can charge even more.

How long does it take to become a brickmason?

Through a formal apprenticeship, 3-4 years. Through informal on-the-job training, 2-4 years to develop journeyman-level skills, though without the formal credential. A vocational school program takes 6-12 months and gives you a head start before entering an apprenticeship or direct employment.

Is masonry a declining career?

Employment is projected to decline 3% through 2032, but 5,600 openings per year persist due to retirements and turnover. The shrinking workforce actually benefits those who enter – less competition means more work and stronger negotiating power for skilled masons. Restoration work and upscale residential construction continue to drive demand.

Can brickmasons work year-round?

In southern and western states with mild winters, yes. In northern states, masonry work slows or stops during winter months when temperatures consistently fall below freezing. Mortar requires temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to cure properly. Some masons use heated enclosures for winter work, but this is expensive and limits productivity.

What is the physical toll of masonry work?

Masonry is hard on the body over time. Chronic knee problems, back pain, and shoulder injuries are common due to the repetitive lifting, bending, and kneeling. Silica dust from cutting brick and block is a serious long-term respiratory hazard – proper dust control and respirator use are essential. Many masons transition to foreman, estimating, or contractor roles later in their careers to reduce physical strain.

Do I need to join a union to work as a brickmason?

No, but union membership through the BAC provides access to the best apprenticeship training, higher wages, and benefits (health insurance, pension). Both union and non-union masons work across the country. In cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, union work dominates. In suburban and rural markets, non-union contractors are more common.

How many bricks can a mason lay in a day?

An experienced journeyman mason typically lays 400-500 standard bricks per day in face brick (where appearance matters) or 600-700 in backup or below-grade work where speed is prioritized over aesthetics. Block masons lay 100-150 standard concrete blocks per day. These numbers vary with wall complexity, weather, and working conditions.

Find masonry training programs near you. Program availability, tuition, schedules, and requirements vary by school and state. Contact programs directly to confirm details.

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