Construction Trades Workers

How to become a Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Also called: Block Layer, Block Mason, Blockmason, Brick and Block Mason, Brick Mason, Bricklayer, Mason, Masonry Installer, Tender

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Masons typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the trade either through an apprenticeship or on the job.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Bricklayer (Brick & Tile). BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Apprenticeship: Bricklayer (Construction). BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Apprenticeship: Bricklayer, Firebrick & Refractory. BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $62,120 a year The middle half earn $51,110 to $79,350.
About 62,400 people work in this job now, and about 63,100 are projected by 2035. (+1.1%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Brickmasons and Blockmasons?

Masons typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the trade either through an apprenticeship or on the job.

How much does a Brickmasons and Blockmasons earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $62,120 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $51,110 to $79,350.

Is a Brickmasons and Blockmasons a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 62,400 people now and 63,100 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Brickmasons and Blockmasons?

Usually not. Only 4% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Bricklayer (Brick & Tile).

Will AI change the work of a Brickmasons and Blockmasons?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.