Brickmasons and Blockmasons
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.
Also called: Block Layer · Block Mason · Blockmason · Brick and Block Mason · Brick Mason · Bricklayer
Median pay (national)
$60,800
$41,330–$95,560 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
53,520
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.2%
~5,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for brickmasons and blockmasons shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $95,560 versus $41,330 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $60,800 leaves roughly 57% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.2% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 5,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Massachusetts pays the most for this role (median $94,370, +55% vs the national median), while South Carolina sits lowest at $43,680 — a 116% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
- Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using broom, wire brush, or scraper.
- Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, dirt, or mortar powder with water to form refractory mixtures.
- Remove burned or damaged brick or mortar, using sledgehammer, crowbar, chipping gun, or chisel.
- Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
Tools & technology
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Windows
- Construction Management Software ProEst
- CPR Visual Estimator
- Daystar iStructural.com
- Estimating software
- RISA Technologies RISA-3D
- Tradesman's Software Master Estimator
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical