Brickmasons and Blockmasons: Career Overview
Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Brickmasons and Blockmasons Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of brickmasons and blockmasons span:
- Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
- Construct corners by fastening in plumb position a corner pole or building a corner pyramid of bricks, and filling in between the corners using a line from corner to corner to guide each course, or layer, of brick.
- Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.
- Calculate angles and courses and determine vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.
- Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
- Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
- Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
- Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top brickmasons and blockmasons rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Brickmasons and Blockmasons Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Adobe Layer
- Block Layer
- Block Mason
- Block Paver
- Blockmason
- Bottom Liner
- Brick Chimney Builder
- Brick Dropper
Job Outlook
There are about 444,707 brickmasons and blockmasons working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -4.6% over the projection horizon.
Brickmasons and Blockmasons Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $50,255 |
| Hourly median | $24.16 |
| 10th percentile | $32,433 |
| 25th percentile | $41,344 |
| 75th percentile | $59,166 |
| 90th percentile | $68,077 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Brickmasons and Blockmasons Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $94,370 |
| Washington | $92,910 |
| Minnesota | $89,170 |
| Illinois | $86,330 |
| Wisconsin | $78,700 |
| Connecticut | $78,030 |
| New York | $77,600 |
| Hawaii | $77,260 |
| New Jersey | $75,300 |
| Oregon | $74,870 |
| Indiana | $72,050 |
| Missouri | $70,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,220 |
| Maine | $67,220 |
| California | $66,420 |
| New Hampshire | $65,450 |
| Montana | $65,070 |
| District of Columbia | $64,100 |
| Ohio | $64,030 |
| Colorado | $63,480 |
| Iowa | $63,470 |
| Tennessee | $63,440 |
| Idaho | $63,040 |
| Michigan | $62,970 |
| Kentucky | $62,160 |
| South Dakota | $61,260 |
| Nevada | $60,570 |
| Vermont | $60,290 |
| Georgia | $60,270 |
| North Dakota | $60,260 |
| Nebraska | $60,060 |
| Arizona | $59,400 |
| Maryland | $58,420 |
| Delaware | $58,410 |
| Wyoming | $58,150 |
| Utah | $56,340 |
| Rhode Island | $55,730 |
| Virginia | $55,630 |
| Kansas | $54,770 |
| Texas | $51,020 |
| Florida | $49,980 |
| Virgin Islands | $49,920 |
| Mississippi | $49,300 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,940 |
| Alabama | $48,820 |
| North Carolina | $48,420 |
| Arkansas | $48,100 |
| Louisiana | $47,370 |
| Oklahoma | $47,330 |
| New Mexico | $47,280 |
| West Virginia | $46,810 |
| South Carolina | $43,680 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for brickmasons and blockmasons shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $82,834 | 3.9% | 0.86 |
| Great Lakes | $72,189 | 20.4% | 1.49 |
| Plains States | $71,259 | 9.1% | 1.49 |
| Far Western US | $69,751 | 10.7% | 0.78 |
| Middle Atlantic | $69,101 | 15.5% | 1.18 |
| Rocky Mountains | $59,662 | 6.7% | 2.13 |
| Southwest | $52,543 | 12.8% | 1.05 |
| Southeast | $52,421 | 20.5% | 0.99 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Brickmasons and Blockmasons
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield, MA | MA | $103,890 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $101,120 | 420 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $99,580 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $91,880 | 730 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $89,590 | 800 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $89,140 | 120 |
| Peoria, IL | IL | $86,590 | 200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $86,330 | 2,480 |
Top Industries Employing Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Most brickmasons and blockmasons work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 50,650 | $61,030 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 730 | $54,340 |
| Manufacturing | 620 | $55,040 |
| Retail Trade | 290 | $57,040 |
| Educational Services | 130 | $58,530 |
| Wholesale Trade | 120 | $55,540 |
Below are examples of industries where brickmasons and blockmasons work:
Software Brickmasons and Blockmasons Use
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for brickmasons and blockmasons is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level brickmasons and blockmasons positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Stonemasons (Primary-Short)
- Carpenters (Primary-Long)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (Primary-Long)
- Tile and Stone Setters (Primary-Short)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Primary-Short)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Primary-Long)
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring brickmasons and blockmasons often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2021.00 (Brickmasons and Blockmasons).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.