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.

What you'd actually 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 27.1% of brickmasons and blockmasons are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

• Structural Iron and Steel Workers
• Electricians
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
• Construction and Building Inspectors
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
• Continuous Mining Machine Operators

Quick questions

How much does a brickmasons and blockmason make?

The median pay is $29.87 per hour — roughly $62,000 a year, with the real range running from about $21.55/hr (10th percentile) to $48.08/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a brickmasons and blockmason?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a brickmasons and blockmason actually do all day?

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.