Best programs to become a brickmason
You do not need a college degree to become a brickmason. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Mason/Masonry (IPEDS completions).
1 college program at 33 schools trains brickmasons and blockmasons, graduating 422 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $62,120 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Best programs to study to become a brickmason
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 46.0101 | 422 | 100.0% | 33 | $33,525 | — |
Top 33 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona Western College Yuma, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 49 | Mason/Masonry | 20% | — | — |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 36 | Mason/Masonry | 40% | — | — |
| 3 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · 1 feeder program | 33 | Mason/Masonry | 38% | — | — |
| 4 | Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 31 | Mason/Masonry | 27% | — | — |
| 5 | Southeastern Community College Whiteville, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 27 | Mason/Masonry | 43% | — | — |
| 6 | George C Wallace State Community College - Selma Selma, AL Public · 1 feeder program | 25 | Mason/Masonry | 41% | — | — |
| 7 | Central Carolina Community College Sanford, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 21 | Mason/Masonry | 43% | — | — |
| 8 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 20 | Mason/Masonry | 58% | — | — |
| 9 | Halifax Community College Weldon, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Mason/Masonry | 35% | — | — |
| 10 | J F Ingram State Technical College Deatsville, AL Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Mason/Masonry | 21% | — | — |
| 11 | Williamson College of the Trades Media, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 17 | Mason/Masonry | 83% | $1,421 | 22% |
| 12 | Escondido Adult School Escondido, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 14 | Mason/Masonry | — | — | — |
| 13 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC Public · 1 feeder program | 11 | Mason/Masonry | 33% | — | — |
| 14 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 10 | Mason/Masonry | 48% | — | — |
| 15 | Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 10 | Mason/Masonry | 81% | — | — |
| 16 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 9 | Mason/Masonry | 25% | — | — |
| 17 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NY Public · 1 feeder program | 9 | Mason/Masonry | 55% | — | 76% |
| 18 | Pamlico Community College Grantsboro, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 8 | Mason/Masonry | 54% | — | — |
| 19 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA Public · 1 feeder program | 8 | Mason/Masonry | 71% | — | 71% |
| 20 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 6 | Mason/Masonry | 31% | — | — |
| 21 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 6 | Mason/Masonry | 51% | — | — |
| 22 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT Public · 1 feeder program | 5 | Mason/Masonry | 29% | — | — |
| 23 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 5 | Mason/Masonry | 66% | — | — |
| 24 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Upper Cumberland Crossville, TN Public · 1 feeder program | 5 | Mason/Masonry | 84% | — | — |
| 25 | Albany Technical College Albany, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 4 | Mason/Masonry | 42% | — | — |
| 26 | Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 4 | Mason/Masonry | 35% | — | — |
| 27 | Mid - Del Technology Center Midwest City, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 4 | Mason/Masonry | 70% | — | — |
| 28 | Orange Technical College - South Campus Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 4 | Mason/Masonry | 35% | — | — |
| 29 | Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder program | 3 | Mason/Masonry | 97% | — | — |
| 30 | Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 1 | Mason/Masonry | 27% | — | — |
| 31 | Gordon Cooper Technology Center Shawnee, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 1 | Mason/Masonry | 90% | — | — |
| 32 | Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Schnecksville, PA Public · 1 feeder program | 1 | Mason/Masonry | — | — | — |
| 33 | Riveroak Technical College Live Oak, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 1 | Mason/Masonry | 75% | — | — |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What brickmasons and blockmasons earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizonalimited | $59,260 | 1,190 | 1.09× | 2 | 80 |
| North Carolinamoderate | $49,940 | 1,760 | 1.06× | 4 | 73 |
| Alabamalimited | $49,710 | 370 | 0.52× | 2 | 42 |
| Wisconsinmoderate | $80,120 | 1,050 | 1.06× | 4 | 40 |
| Indianalimited | $73,110 | 1,770 | 1.64× | 1 | 36 |
| Nebraskalimited | $61,200 | 350 | 1.00× | 1 | 33 |
| Pennsylvaniamoderate | $69,560 | 2,910 | 1.42× | 3 | 26 |
| Californialimited | $69,050 | 3,820 | 0.62× | 2 | 24 |
| Oklahomamoderate | $50,620 | 580 | 1.00× | 3 | 15 |
| South Carolinalimited | $49,010 | 410 | 0.52× | 1 | 11 |
| New Yorklimited | $84,410 | 3,790 | 1.16× | 1 | 9 |
| Illinoislimited | $89,980 | 2,490 | 1.21× | 1 | 6 |
| Floridalimited | $52,760 | 2,610 | 0.78× | 2 | 5 |
| Georgialimited | $50,650 | — | — | 2 | 5 |
| Tennesseelimited | $63,850 | 1,050 | 0.94× | 1 | 5 |
| Utahlimited | $60,450 | 1,590 | 2.71× | 1 | 5 |
| Kansaslimited | $59,220 | 330 | 0.68× | 1 | 4 |
| Coloradolimited | $65,260 | 870 | 0.89× | 1 | 3 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to 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.
- 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.
Skills
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Mathematics2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Writing2.3
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction4.8
- Mathematics3.5
- English Language3.3
- Public Safety and Security3.1
- Production and Processing3.1
- Design3.1
Abilities
- Trunk Strength4.0
- Extent Flexibility3.9
- Static Strength3.8
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.8
- Near Vision3.8
- Manual Dexterity3.8
Core activities
- Handling and Moving Objects4.2
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.1
- Getting Information4.1
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.0
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.9
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.9
How to get in
How to become a brickmason
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Brickmasons and Blockmasons1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 46.0101Mason/Masonry
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a brickmason?+
You do not need a college degree to become a brickmason. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Mason/Masonry (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a brickmason?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Mason/Masonry (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 program to this job, which graduates about 422 people a year.
How much do brickmasons and blockmasons earn?+
The median is $62,120 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $44,820 at the 10th percentile to $100,010 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for brickmasons and blockmasons growing?+
BLS projects a +3.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 5,600 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
33 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 program that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do brickmasons and blockmasons work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Mason, Bricklayer, Block Layer, Brick and Block Mason among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 47-2021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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