Bricklayer and Stonemason
Impact: Building the walls, foundations, and structures that form the physical fabric of the built environment
Lay bricks, blocks, and stone to construct walls, foundations, and structural elements of buildings, combining traditional masonry skills with modern construction techniques to build structures that will stand for generations. Lay bricks and blocks; construct stone walls; point and repoint mortar joints; build arches and decorative features; and restore and repair heritage masonry. Develop expertise in a specific masonry domain such as heritage stone restoration, decorative brickwork, or structural masonry.
Try for free See if this fits you
What does a Bricklayer and Stonemason do?
What the work is really like
You lay brick and stone to build structures that last decades. Most of your day is on construction sites, setting foundations, raising walls, or restoring heritage buildings where every joint matters. The work combines repetition with precision: you spread mortar, position each unit level and plumb, then tap it into alignment before the mix starts to set. You read blueprints to understand bond patterns and wall heights, then translate those lines into physical masonry that holds weight and weathers storms.
The tasks vary by job. On a housing development, you might lay stretcher bond all day, building walls fast and straight. On a heritage restoration, you match 200-year-old lime mortar and cut replacement stone by hand to preserve the original character. You also point and repoint joints, construct arches, build decorative features, and repair structural elements where mortar has failed. The work is physical: you lift blocks, mix mortar, scaffold up and down, and kneel or crouch for hours. Weather dictates the schedule. Rain stops mortar from setting properly, frost cracks fresh work, and summer heat dries the mix too fast, so you adapt or wait.
Skills and strengths that matter
You need solid hand skills and a good eye. Bricklaying is muscle memory: trowel work, buttering beds, striking joints. You learn bond patterns like English, Flemish, and stretcher, each with its own structural logic and visual rhythm. Stonework is less predictable. You shape irregular pieces to fit, build coursed or random rubble walls, and think three-dimensionally about how loads transfer through the material. Mortar mixing is part science, part feel: you judge ratios, adjust for temperature and humidity, and know when the batch is right.
Attention to detail separates acceptable work from lasting work. A wall that looks straight to most people might be three millimetres out of plumb, and that error compounds over height. You measure constantly, check levels, and correct as you go. Physical fitness is a given: you carry 20-kilogram bags, stand on scaffolding, and bend repeatedly without losing focus. Problem-solving comes up daily. Bricks arrive chipped, blueprints show impossible tolerances, or a heritage wall reveals hidden damage once you start stripping render. You adapt, improvise safe workarounds, and keep the job moving. Reliability matters because crews depend on you to finish your section so the next trade can start. Show up, work steady, leave clean joints.
Who tends to thrive here
You probably enjoy working with your hands and seeing tangible results. People drawn to this trade often value workmanship over speed, take satisfaction in building something solid, and don't mind that the recognition comes from the structure itself rather than public applause. You work outdoors in all seasons, so tolerance for cold mornings and sweaty afternoons helps. The job suits people who are comfortable on scaffolding, untroubled by repetitive physical strain, and patient enough to set 400 bricks in a day without cutting corners.
You spend roughly half your time working solo, setting your own pace and quality standard, and half coordinating with labourers, other masons, or trades like plumbers who need openings left at exact heights. If you need constant variety or climate-controlled environments, the work will wear you down. If you have chronic joint problems or can't lift consistently, the physical load becomes unsustainable. People who thrive here tend to be methodical, take pride in square corners and clean pointing, and find purpose in contributing to structures that outlive careers.
How people get into the role and grow
Most enter through an apprenticeship, typically three years, combining on-site training with classroom instruction at a technical college. You earn while you learn, starting around £22,000 and progressing as your skill improves. Some employers require a CSCS card before you start, proof you understand site safety and construction basics. Alternative routes exist: you can attend a short vocational bricklaying course, then find labouring work on a site where a mason is willing to teach you informally. That route is slower and less structured, though it works if apprenticeships are scarce in your area.
Early career progression is straightforward. You move from apprentice to qualified bricklayer in three to five years, taking on more complex jobs like arches, decorative work, or heritage restoration. By seven to twelve years, you reach senior bricklayer status, supervising small crews, estimating material quantities, and liaising with site managers. Some masons specialise: heritage restoration requires knowledge of lime mortars and traditional bonds, while decorative brickwork focuses on intricate patterns and feature walls. Others move into estimating, site supervision, or start their own masonry business, hiring apprentices and tendering for contracts. Demand is stable, driven by housing construction and the constant need to repair and restore older buildings, so steady work remains available for skilled masons willing to travel and maintain high standards.
From people working as a Bricklayer and Stonemason
Most of the day is setup, mixing mortar, weather-watching and cleaning; actual laying happens in short precision bursts—you trade long prep and waits for brief concentration windows to keep levels and joints perfect.
Researched from How to Lay Brick — This Old House, How to Lay Brick — Family Handyman
A day in the life of a Bricklayer and Stonemason
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 50% Team / 50% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- Very High
- Travel
- 20-40% travel to sites
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-52 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
Bricklayer and Stonemason salary, education and outlook at a glance
- Median salary
- $62,120
- Derived/proxy occupation
- Salary proxy: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 National OEWS · SOC 47-2021.00
Uses the closest published occupation because BLS does not publish a separate wage series for this exact title. - Entry-level
- $44,820
- Senior
- $100,010
- Growth by 2033
- 5% (housing construction and heritage restoration sustaining demand)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- High
- 10th-to-90th percentile pay range
- 123% from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $0 - $10,000
Skills you need as a Bricklayer and Stonemason
Hard skills
- Bricklaying (English bond
- Flemish bond
- stretcher bond)
- Stonework (coursed and random rubble)
- Mortar mixing and pointing
- Arch construction
- Heritage masonry restoration
- CSCS card compliance
Soft skills
- Attention to detail
- Physical fitness
- Craftsmanship
- Problem-solving
- Reliability
Technical complexity: Moderate
Tools a Bricklayer and Stonemason uses
Core tools
- Marshalltown Magnesium Brick Trowel (11-inch) (Hardware): Used to pick up, spread and shape mortar and lay bricks with consistent mortar bed thickness while building walls and veneers.
- Husqvarna K770 Power Cutter (Equipment): Used to cut brick, stone and concrete precisely on-site for openings, coping and fitting irregular masonry units.
- Stabila 48-Inch Type 196-2 Level (Hardware): Used to check and maintain plumb and level lines on walls, arches and stone features during layout and erection.
Commonly used
- Makita 9557PBX1 4-1/2" Angle Grinder (Hardware): Used for grinding mortar joints, dressing stones, and cutting reinforcement or small masonry pieces during installation and repairs.
- Belle Minimix 150 Cement Mixer (Equipment): Used to mix small to medium batches of mortar on-site to the correct consistency for laying brick and stone.
- Procore (Platform): Used to access project drawings, RFIs, submittals and coordinate schedules and documentation on commercial masonry projects.
Specialist tools
- AutoCAD (Software): Used to review and sometimes edit masonry details, dimensions and unit layouts provided in project drawings before work starts.
- Bluebeam Revu (Software): Used to markup and measure plans and joint details, annotate cut lists, and collaborate on masonry drawings with contractors.
Software worth learning
Freelancers who bill clients in other countries receive payments in local currencies and convert them through Wise.
How to become a Bricklayer and Stonemason
- Minimum education
- Certificate or Vocational Training
- Licensing
- No professional license required
No statutory licence; CSCS card required; NVQ Level 3 in bricklaying provides professional recognition. - Years to mid-career
- 3-6
- Years to senior
- 7-12 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where a Bricklayer and Stonemason comes from
- Labourer
- Plasterer
Where a Bricklayer and Stonemason goes next
- Heritage Stonemason
- Masonry Business Owner
Typical Bricklayer and Stonemason progression
- Masonry Apprentice
- Bricklayer
- Senior Bricklayer
- Masonry Business Owner
Bricklayer and Stonemason job outlook and future demand
- Automation probability
- 0.3697
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Stable
Job satisfaction as a Bricklayer and Stonemason
- Overall satisfaction
- 7.5/10
- Meaning
- 8/10
- Work-life balance
- 7/10
- Prestige
- 6.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate
Where a Bricklayer and Stonemason finds community
Professional organisations
- Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA): National trade association that provides training, safety resources and advocacy for masonry contractors and journeymen.
- The Masonry Society (TMS): Technical society that publishes research, best-practice guidance and hosts gatherings relevant to masonry design and practice.
Conferences
- World of Concrete: Major annual trade show and conference for concrete and masonry professionals showcasing new tools, equipment and training.
Podcasts and media
- Masonry Construction: Industry publication covering project case studies, product news and techniques that influence current masonry practice.
Online communities
- r/Masonry: Active Reddit community for masons and hobbyists to share job photos, troubleshooting tips and practical trade advice.
Questions people ask about a Bricklayer and Stonemason
What is the salary range for Bricklayer and Stonemason?
Pay for a Bricklayer and Stonemason starts around $44,820 at entry level, reaches $62,120 at the median and climbs to $100,010 for the most experienced.
What does it take to become a Bricklayer and Stonemason?
Most employers look for a Certificate or Vocational Training, no professional license required and reaching mid-career takes about 3-6 years.
Is remote work possible as a Bricklayer and Stonemason?
The work happens on site. All bricklaying work is on-site.
What is the job outlook for Bricklayer and Stonemason?
Projections put employment growth at 5% (housing construction and heritage restoration sustaining demand) through 2033, with demand rated Stable. Housing construction and heritage restoration are sustaining demand; there is a significant shortage of skilled bricklayers.
How exposed is a Bricklayer and Stonemason to automation and AI?
This work carries a moderate risk of disruption from AI. Bricklaying robots (SAM100, Hadrian X) are developing for standard work; heritage masonry and complex decorative work remain human.
Is Bricklayer and Stonemason a stressful job?
Stress is rated moderate for this work. Physical demands and weather dependency create moderate stress.
What does a typical day look like for a Bricklayer and Stonemason?
Most of the day is setup, mixing mortar, weather-watching and cleaning; actual laying happens in short precision bursts, you trade long prep and waits for brief concentration windows to keep levels and joints perfect.
How hard is it to switch into Bricklayer and Stonemason from another career?
Switching into this work from another career is rated moderate. The entry requirement of a Certificate or Vocational Training sets the floor for anyone coming from another field.
Does a Bricklayer and Stonemason need a professional license?
No professional license required. No statutory licence; CSCS card required; NVQ Level 3 in bricklaying provides professional recognition.
Careers similar to Bricklayer and Stonemason
Find your match
Is Bricklayer and Stonemason the right career for you?
The assessment asks about the work you enjoy, the strengths you rely on and the conditions in which you do your best work, and then sets your answers against more than 4,000 careers so you can see where Bricklayer and Stonemason ranks among the careers that suit you.
It takes about 25 minutes, and your first matches are free, with the full results available when you upgrade.
CareerMatch earns a commission when you sign up for some of the tools recommended here, which helps keep the assessment free.