Brickmasons and blockmasons salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,820 | $21.55 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Mean (average) | $68,280 | $32.83 |
| 90th percentile | $100,010 | $48.08 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Brickmasons and blockmasons pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,710 | $37,870 | $61,240 | 370 | 0.52 |
| Arizona | $59,260 | $49,080 | $75,040 | 1,190 | 1.09 |
| Arkansas | $55,100 | $39,170 | $62,370 | 450 | 1.02 |
| California | $69,050 | $49,440 | $108,200 | 3,820 | 0.62 |
| Colorado | $65,260 | $46,180 | $77,420 | 870 | 0.89 |
| Connecticut | $67,960 | $54,840 | $87,550 | 480 | 0.84 |
| Delaware | $66,550 | $52,350 | $84,390 | 200 | 1.24 |
| District of Columbia | $64,450 | $62,140 | $101,140 | 200 | 0.86 |
| Florida | $52,760 | $37,430 | $70,250 | 2,610 | 0.78 |
| Georgia | $50,650 | $34,600 | $74,450 | ||
| Hawaii | $79,250 | $44,200 | $98,130 | 120 | 0.58 |
| Idaho | $62,510 | $46,030 | $78,780 | 320 | 1.09 |
| Illinois | $89,980 | $47,200 | $109,670 | 2,490 | 1.21 |
| Indiana | $73,110 | $46,760 | $90,020 | 1,770 | 1.64 |
| Iowa | $69,440 | $48,480 | $78,980 | 290 | 0.54 |
| Kansas | $59,220 | $40,930 | $82,080 | 330 | 0.68 |
| Kentucky | $59,820 | $36,650 | $77,920 | 780 | 1.15 |
| Louisiana | $57,440 | $46,500 | $62,200 | 240 | 0.37 |
| Maine | $42,710 | $38,400 | $73,130 | 90 | 0.4 |
| Maryland | $59,030 | $37,980 | $70,640 | 1,650 | 1.77 |
| Massachusetts | $94,950 | $59,940 | $136,860 | 1,570 | 1.28 |
| Michigan | $63,500 | $48,400 | $90,930 | 2,240 | 1.5 |
| Minnesota | $95,220 | $65,420 | $100,980 | 1,040 | 1.04 |
| Mississippi | $48,820 | $33,450 | $60,040 | 160 | 0.41 |
| Missouri | $72,370 | $47,610 | $85,630 | 1,940 | 1.95 |
| Montana | $56,030 | $34,790 | $77,600 | 140 | 0.81 |
| Nebraska | $61,200 | $44,670 | $72,500 | 350 | 1 |
| Nevada | $60,670 | $46,580 | $77,150 | 810 | 1.55 |
| New Hampshire | $66,890 | $47,390 | $78,840 | 140 | 0.6 |
| New Jersey | $77,010 | $49,680 | $111,640 | 520 | 0.36 |
| New Mexico | $44,980 | $36,160 | $59,530 | 270 | 0.9 |
| New York | $84,410 | $60,470 | $127,980 | 3,790 | 1.16 |
| North Carolina | $49,940 | $38,270 | $61,590 | 1,760 | 1.06 |
| North Dakota | $79,940 | $51,640 | $91,750 | 150 | 1.01 |
| Ohio | $70,950 | $46,260 | $83,790 | 2,770 | 1.48 |
| Oklahoma | $50,620 | $40,350 | $68,680 | 580 | 1 |
| Oregon | $79,450 | $52,550 | $102,400 | 650 | 0.98 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,560 | $49,690 | $102,760 | 2,910 | 1.42 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,420 | $29,120 | $59,450 | 50 | 0.15 |
| Rhode Island | $79,280 | $51,900 | $111,180 | 220 | 1.28 |
| South Carolina | $49,010 | $35,710 | $77,960 | 410 | 0.52 |
| South Dakota | $60,380 | $44,000 | $86,020 | 320 | 2.05 |
| Tennessee | $63,850 | $46,610 | $75,640 | 1,050 | 0.94 |
| Texas | $56,410 | $43,860 | $60,940 | 4,300 | 0.9 |
| Utah | $60,450 | $40,550 | $78,280 | 1,590 | 2.71 |
| Vermont | $59,590 | $50,950 | $76,420 | 100 | 0.93 |
| Virgin Islands | $51,390 | $32,000 | $59,090 | 90 | 8.29 |
| Virginia | $54,680 | $39,360 | $66,250 | 2,350 | 1.69 |
| Washington | $83,190 | $55,240 | $113,100 | 600 | 0.5 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 | $30,750 | $64,600 | 210 | 0.88 |
| Wisconsin | $80,120 | $47,110 | $100,360 | 1,050 | 1.06 |
| Wyoming | $60,040 | $49,640 | $77,780 | 230 | 2.39 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for brickmasons and blockmasons
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 17.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for brickmasons and blockmasons
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Mason/Masonry CIP 46.0101
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- CPR Visual Estimator
- Construction Management Software ProEst
- Daystar iStructural.com
- Estimating software
- RISA Technologies RISA-3D
- Tradesman's Software Master Estimator
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Block Layer, Block Mason, Blockmason, Brick and Block Mason, Brick Mason, Bricklayer, Mason, Masonry Installer, Tender.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do brickmasons and blockmasons make?
The national median annual wage for brickmasons and blockmasons was $62,120 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,820 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $100,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do brickmasons and blockmasons need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and apprenticeship on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is brickmasons and blockmasons a growing career?
BLS projects employment of brickmasons and blockmasons to change +1.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay brickmasons and blockmasons the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($95,220), Massachusetts ($94,950), Illinois ($89,980). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.