Occupation salary profile

Brickmasons and Blockmasons

SOC 47-2021 BLS OEWS May 2025

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. Installers of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units are classified in “Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers” (37-3011). Excludes “Stonemasons” (47-2022).

National median · BLS
$62,120
▲ +2.17% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$68,280
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
52,550
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$44,820
25th$51,110
Median (50th)$62,120
75th$79,350
90th — top pay$100,010

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Brickmasons and Blockmasons

BLS projects employment of brickmasons and blockmasons to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 4,100 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
62,400 → 63,100
+700 jobs
Projected change
+1.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
4,100
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Apprenticeship
Self-employed
17.5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Brickmasons and Blockmasons

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Coordination3.1
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Operations Monitoring3.0
  • Quality Control Analysis3.0
  • Speaking3.0
  • Time Management3.0
  • Active Learning2.9
  • Complex Problem Solving2.9
Top knowledge areas
  • Building and Construction4.8
  • Mathematics3.5
  • English Language3.3
  • Public Safety and Security3.1
  • Production and Processing3.1
  • Design3.1
  • Administration and Management3.0
  • Mechanical3.0
Software and technology used
Intuit QuickBooksMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsConstruction Management Software ProEstCPR Visual EstimatorDaystar iStructural.comEstimating softwareRISA Technologies RISA-3DTradesman's Software Master Estimator

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: 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.

About the job

What brickmasons and blockmasons do

  • 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.
Also called
Block LayerBrick and Block MasonBricklayerMasonBlock MasonBlockmasonBrick MasonMasonry InstallerTender
More job titles for this occupation (77)
Adobe LayerBlock PaverBottom LinerBrick and Tile BricklayerBrick Chimney BuilderBrick DropperBrick LayerBrick PaverBrick PointerBrick SetterBrickmasonCasing BuilderCasing ManCasing WorkerChimney BuilderChimney MechanicChimney RepairerCinder Block MasonCoke Oven MasonCoke Oven PatcherConcrete Block LayerConcrete Block MasonConcrete MasonConstruction BricklayerCupola LinerCupola MechanicCupola PatcherDoor LinerDuct LayerEpoxy SpecialistFirebrick and Refractory BricklayerFirebrick and Refractory Tile BricklayerFirebrick LayerFireplace InstallerFitterFurnace BuilderFurnace LinerFurnace MasonFurnace MechanicFurnace RelinerGypsum Block SetterHot Top LinerJourneyman MasonKiln Car RepairerKiln Door BuilderKiln MechanicKiln RepairerLadle BuilderLadle LinerLadle MechanicLadle PatcherLinerLining MechanicManhole BuilderMason LaborerMason LinerMasonry ContractorMasonry LaborerOven BuilderPatcherPermastone MechanicPlaster Block LayerPottery Kiln BuilderRefractory BricklayerRefractory MasonRelinerSegment Block LayerSetterSilo ErectorSmelter LinerSpout LinerStopping BuilderTerra Cotta MasonTerra Cotta SetterTunnel Kiln RepairerVessel BuilderVessel Liner

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.