Bricklayers and Stonemasons
Overview
Introduction
Bricklayers (also known as brickmasons and blockmasons) are skilled workers who construct and repair walls, partitions, floors, arches, fireplaces, chimneys, and other structures from brick, concrete block, gypsum block, and precast panels made of terra cotta, structural tile, and other masonry materials. Stonemasons build stone walls, floors, piers, and other structures, and they set the decorative stone exteriors of structures, such as churches, hotels, and public buildings. Approximately 56,830 brickmas...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The median hourly pay of bricklayers was $28.67 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). A person working full time at this pay rate would have annual earnings of approximately $59,640. Earnings for bricklayers ranged from a low of less than $18.44 per hour (approximately $38,360 annually) to a high of more than $45.30 per hour (about $94,220 yearly) during that same time p...
Work Environment
Most bricklayers and stonemasons have a 40-hour workweek. They are usually paid time and a half for overtime and double time for work on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Most of the work is done outdoors, where conditions may be dusty, hot, cold, or damp. Often workers must stand on scaffolds that are high off the ground. They may need to bend or stoop constantly to pick up materials. T...
Outlook
Through 2032, no employment growth is expected for brickmasons and blockmasons, while stonemasons will experience a 6 percent decline, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). While stone and brick are still popular, modern products and changing installation techniques require less labor than in the past, according to the DOL. "Fewer workers are needed to install innovations such as thi...