🗺️ NEW: Elevator Mechanic Salary by State — full 50-state pay table
A Building Trade That Lasts

Mason / Bricklayer Career Guide
Pay, Path & How to Get Started

$45K
Entry Level
$62K
Median Pay
$100K
Top 10%
National figures · BLS OEWS, May 2025
Overview

What Does a Mason / Bricklayer Do?

Masons and bricklayers build with brick, block, and stone — walls, facades, chimneys, and structures meant to stand for generations. It's skilled, physical craft work with strong union wages and the rare satisfaction of pointing to buildings you built by hand.

Why People Choose This Trade

  • Skilled craft with strong union wages
  • Tangible, lasting results you can point to
  • Consistent construction demand
  • Apprenticeship — earn while you learn, no debt
  • Path to foreman or your own masonry business

A Typical Day

  • Laying brick, block, and stone to plans
  • Mixing and spreading mortar
  • Reading blueprints and setting lines/levels
  • Cutting and shaping units to fit
  • Building walls, facades, and structures

Quick Stats

DemandSteady
Job Growth (10yr)Steady
Training PathApprenticeship (Union)
Time to Qualify3–4 Years
Student Debt$0 (Union)

Key Certifications

  • Masonry apprenticeship (union)
  • OSHA-10 / OSHA-30
  • Trowel trades credentials
  • Foreman/estimating (later)
Career Path

How the Career Progresses

1

Apprentice

3–4 year union apprenticeship. Learn bricklaying, blockwork, and stone while earning.

2

Journeyman Mason

After completion. Full union scale plus benefits. Independent skilled work.

3

Lead / Foreman

Running crews and complex masonry. $70K–$90K on prevailing-wage work.

4

Contractor / Business Owner

Start your own masonry operation.

Related Trades

Explore Similar Careers

Your skills and interests may fit more than one trade. Compare before you commit.

Carpenter →Ironworker / Structural Steel →Construction Inspector →
Free Tool

See Full Salary Data

Our Salary Compare tool shows Mason / Bricklayer wages at every level — and stacks them against other trades and a 4-year degree.

Compare Mason / Bricklayer Salaries →

Ready to Explore Mason / Bricklayer?

Find training programs and trade schools near you. Free search, no account required.

Find Programs Near You →