How to become a Bricklayer
Official title: Bricklayers
Also called: Bricklayer, Chimney bricklayer, Apprentice bricklayer, Refractory bricklayer, Smokestack bricklayer, Kiln repair bricklayer, Maintenance bricklayer, Ladle repair bricklayer, Chimney repair bricklayer, Furnace lining bricklayer, Journeyman/woman bricklayer, Industrial furnace bricklayer
Bricklayers lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone and other similar materials to construct or repair walls, arches, chimneys, fireplaces and other structures in accordance with blueprints and specifications. They are employed by construction companies and bricklaying contractors or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- Read sketches and blueprints to calculate materials required
- Cut and trim bricks and concrete blocks to specification using hand and power tools
- Prepare and lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone, structural tiles and similar materials to construct or repair walls, foundations and other structures in residential, industrial and commercial construction
- Lay bricks or other masonry units to build residential or commercial chimneys and fireplaces
- Lay radial bricks to build masonry shells of industrial chimneys
- Lay or install firebricks to line industrial chimneys and smokestacks
- Line or reline furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations using refractory or acid-resistant bricks, refractory concretes, plastic refractories and other materials
- Lay bricks, stone or similar materials to provide veneer facing to walls or other surfaces
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in bricklaying is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Trade certification for bricklayers is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Yukon. Trade certification for stonemasons is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador. Trade certification for restoration stone masons is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified bricklayers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Red Seal trade. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in bricklaying is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Red Seal endorsement is available. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $78,000 a year The middle half earn $59,865 to $85,508.
- About 10,700 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 11,500 are projected by 2033. (+7.5%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Bricklayer?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in bricklaying is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Trade certification for bricklayers is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Yukon. Trade certification for stonemasons is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador. Trade certification for restoration stone masons is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified bricklayers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
How much does a Bricklayer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $78,000 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $59,865 to $85,508.
Is a Bricklayer a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2033, from about 10,700 to about 11,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a Bricklayer?
Usually not. Only 4% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Red Seal trade.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03