Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Brickmasons and Blockmasons (SOC 47-2021) earn a median $62,120 a year ($29.87 an hour) in the United States, with 52,550 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Minnesota.
What brickmasons and blockmasons do
Brickmasons and blockmasons build walls, partitions, arches, chimneys and similar structures by setting brick, concrete block, glass block, structural tile or terra-cotta in mortar. A day starts with measuring from reference points and marking guidelines, then building up the corners with a corner pole or a pyramid of bricks so the courses between them can be laid to a line. The mason spreads mortar, sets each unit, checks plumb and alignment, and cuts pieces to size with a trowel edge, hammer or power saw. Excess mortar is removed and the joints are finished so they are sealed and uniform. The work includes repairing existing masonry as well as building new, and it involves calculating angles and courses and the amount of material from blueprints. Stonemasons have their own code (47-2022), and workers who only install mortarless segmental concrete wall units are classified under landscaping and groundskeeping.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Adobe Layer, Block Layer, Block Mason, Block Paver, Blockmason.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.55 | $24.57 | $29.87 | $38.15 | $48.08 | $32.83 | 52,550 |
| Annual | $44,820 | $51,110 | $62,120 | $79,350 | $100,010 | $68,280 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where brickmasons and blockmasons earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $31.45 | $40.81 | $45.78 | $47.51 | $48.55 | $43.91 | 1,040 | 0.35 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $65,420 | $84,880 | $95,220 | $98,810 | $100,980 | $91,330 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $28.82 | $36.67 | $45.65 | $64.18 | $65.80 | $48.01 | 1,570 | 0.43 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $59,940 | $76,280 | $94,950 | $133,490 | $136,860 | $99,860 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $22.69 | $30.02 | $43.26 | $49.16 | $52.73 | $40.79 | 2,490 | 0.41 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $47,200 | $62,450 | $89,980 | $102,260 | $109,670 | $84,830 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.07 | $35.65 | $40.58 | $51.73 | $61.53 | $43.72 | 3,790 | 0.39 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $60,470 | $74,160 | $84,410 | $107,600 | $127,980 | $90,940 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $26.56 | $35.14 | $40.00 | $49.11 | $54.37 | $41.07 | 600 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $55,240 | $73,090 | $83,190 | $102,140 | $113,100 | $85,420 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.09 | $23.31 | $27.12 | $28.57 | $29.30 | $26.03 | 4,300 | 0.31 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $43,860 | $48,480 | $56,410 | $59,430 | $60,940 | $54,140 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.77 | $28.24 | $33.20 | $38.26 | $52.02 | $35.15 | 3,820 | 0.21 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $49,440 | $58,730 | $69,050 | $79,580 | $108,200 | $73,120 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.07 | $35.65 | $40.58 | $51.73 | $61.53 | $43.72 | 3,790 | 0.39 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $60,470 | $74,160 | $84,410 | $107,600 | $127,980 | $90,940 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $23.89 | $28.58 | $33.44 | $41.79 | $49.41 | $35.60 | 2,910 | 0.48 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $49,690 | $59,440 | $69,560 | $86,920 | $102,760 | $74,050 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $22.24 | $27.56 | $34.11 | $38.39 | $40.29 | $33.36 | 2,770 | 0.50 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $46,260 | $57,320 | $70,950 | $79,860 | $83,790 | $69,390 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $34.15 | $44.37 | $47.10 | $47.68 | $48.91 | $44.62 | 820 | 0.42 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $71,020 | $92,290 | $97,960 | $99,170 | $101,720 | $92,810 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $28.64 | $38.99 | $47.04 | $51.76 | $55.51 | $43.53 | 310 | 0.15 | 0.45 |
| Annual | $59,580 | $81,100 | $97,830 | $107,660 | $115,460 | $90,530 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $30.15 | $37.16 | $46.62 | $65.44 | $65.80 | $49.67 | 1,060 | 0.39 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $62,720 | $77,290 | $96,960 | $136,120 | $136,870 | $103,310 | ||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $23.87 | $31.34 | $46.16 | $47.70 | $48.25 | $40.53 | 280 | 0.34 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $49,650 | $65,180 | $96,010 | $99,210 | $100,360 | $84,310 | ||||
| Lima, OH | Hourly | $24.63 | $30.27 | $45.30 | $56.01 | $56.01 | $43.37 | 40 | 0.72 | 2.13 |
| Annual | $51,230 | $62,960 | $94,220 | $116,500 | $116,500 | $90,220 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $29.89 | $36.20 | $44.37 | $57.00 | $61.53 | $45.58 | 3,010 | 0.32 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $62,180 | $75,290 | $92,300 | $118,560 | $127,980 | $94,810 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $22.58 | $29.78 | $43.26 | $49.31 | $52.82 | $40.39 | 2,140 | 0.47 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $46,960 | $61,950 | $89,980 | $102,570 | $109,870 | $84,010 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $22.00 | $23.92 | $29.17 | $30.98 | $36.11 | $29.39 | 1,910 | 0.61 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $45,760 | $49,760 | $60,670 | $64,450 | $75,120 | $61,140 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.63 | $24.04 | $28.56 | $28.72 | $29.30 | $26.94 | 1,590 | 0.39 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $47,080 | $50,010 | $59,400 | $59,730 | $60,940 | $56,040 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $23.77 | $27.98 | $30.51 | $37.59 | $49.84 | $34.30 | 1,220 | 0.20 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $49,440 | $58,190 | $63,450 | $78,180 | $103,680 | $71,350 | ||||
Top industries employing brickmasons and blockmasons
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors employ 78.3% of brickmasons and blockmasons nationally (41,160 jobs) at a median $61,410 a year ($29.52 an hour), followed by Nonresidential Building Construction (6.4%) and Building Finishing Contractors (3.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors NAICS 238100 | 41,160 | 78.3% | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 3,350 | 6.4% | $74,120 | $35.64 |
| Building Finishing Contractors NAICS 238300 | 1,900 | 3.6% | $63,400 | $30.48 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings NAICS 561700 | 750 | 1.4% | $56,990 | $27.40 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 450 | 0.9% | $70,290 | $33.79 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (52,550). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $59,340 for brickmasons and blockmasons in May 2021 and $62,120 in May 2025, with employment of 55,950 and 52,550.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $59,340 | $28.53 | 55,950 |
| May 2022 | $59,000 | $28.37 | 55,530 |
| May 2023 | $59,640 | $28.67 | 56,830 |
| May 2024 | $60,800 | $29.23 | 53,520 |
| May 2025 | $62,120 | $29.87 | 52,550 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota profile | $45.78 | $95,220 | $65,420 | $100,980 | 1,040 | 0.35 | 1.04 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $45.65 | $94,950 | $59,940 | $136,860 | 1,570 | 0.43 | 1.28 |
| 3 | Illinois profile | $43.26 | $89,980 | $47,200 | $109,670 | 2,490 | 0.41 | 1.21 |
| 4 | New York profile | $40.58 | $84,410 | $60,470 | $127,980 | 3,790 | 0.39 | 1.16 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $40.00 | $83,190 | $55,240 | $113,100 | 600 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| 6 | Wisconsin profile | $38.52 | $80,120 | $47,110 | $100,360 | 1,050 | 0.36 | 1.06 |
| 7 | North Dakota profile | $38.43 | $79,940 | $51,640 | $91,750 | 150 | 0.34 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $38.20 | $79,450 | $52,550 | $102,400 | 650 | 0.33 | 0.98 |
| 9 | Rhode Island profile | $38.12 | $79,280 | $51,900 | $111,180 | 220 | 0.43 | 1.28 |
| 10 | Hawaii profile | $38.10 | $79,250 | $44,200 | $98,130 | 120 | 0.20 | 0.58 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $37.03 | $77,010 | $49,680 | $111,640 | 520 | 0.12 | 0.36 |
| 12 | Indiana profile | $35.15 | $73,110 | $46,760 | $90,020 | 1,770 | 0.55 | 1.64 |
| 13 | Missouri profile | $34.80 | $72,370 | $47,610 | $85,630 | 1,940 | 0.66 | 1.95 |
| 14 | Ohio profile | $34.11 | $70,950 | $46,260 | $83,790 | 2,770 | 0.50 | 1.48 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania profile | $33.44 | $69,560 | $49,690 | $102,760 | 2,910 | 0.48 | 1.42 |
| 16 | Iowa profile | $33.38 | $69,440 | $48,480 | $78,980 | 290 | 0.18 | 0.54 |
| 17 | California profile | $33.20 | $69,050 | $49,440 | $108,200 | 3,820 | 0.21 | 0.62 |
| 18 | Connecticut profile | $32.67 | $67,960 | $54,840 | $87,550 | 480 | 0.28 | 0.84 |
| 19 | New Hampshire profile | $32.16 | $66,890 | $47,390 | $78,840 | 140 | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| 20 | Delaware profile | $32.00 | $66,550 | $52,350 | $84,390 | 200 | 0.42 | 1.24 |
| 21 | Colorado profile | $31.37 | $65,260 | $46,180 | $77,420 | 870 | 0.30 | 0.89 |
| 22 | District of Columbia profile | $30.98 | $64,450 | $62,140 | $101,140 | 200 | 0.29 | 0.86 |
| 23 | Tennessee profile | $30.70 | $63,850 | $46,610 | $75,640 | 1,050 | 0.32 | 0.94 |
| 24 | Michigan profile | $30.53 | $63,500 | $48,400 | $90,930 | 2,240 | 0.51 | 1.50 |
| 25 | Idaho profile | $30.06 | $62,510 | $46,030 | $78,780 | 320 | 0.37 | 1.09 |
| 26 | Nebraska profile | $29.42 | $61,200 | $44,670 | $72,500 | 350 | 0.34 | 1.00 |
| 27 | Nevada profile | $29.17 | $60,670 | $46,580 | $77,150 | 810 | 0.52 | 1.55 |
| 28 | Utah profile | $29.06 | $60,450 | $40,550 | $78,280 | 1,590 | 0.92 | 2.71 |
| 29 | South Dakota profile | $29.03 | $60,380 | $44,000 | $86,020 | 320 | 0.69 | 2.05 |
| 30 | Wyoming profile | $28.87 | $60,040 | $49,640 | $77,780 | 230 | 0.81 | 2.39 |
| 31 | Kentucky profile | $28.76 | $59,820 | $36,650 | $77,920 | 780 | 0.39 | 1.15 |
| 32 | Vermont profile | $28.65 | $59,590 | $50,950 | $76,420 | 100 | 0.31 | 0.93 |
| 33 | Arizona profile | $28.49 | $59,260 | $49,080 | $75,040 | 1,190 | 0.37 | 1.09 |
| 34 | Kansas profile | $28.47 | $59,220 | $40,930 | $82,080 | 330 | 0.23 | 0.68 |
| 35 | Maryland profile | $28.38 | $59,030 | $37,980 | $70,640 | 1,650 | 0.60 | 1.77 |
| 36 | Louisiana profile | $27.62 | $57,440 | $46,500 | $62,200 | 240 | 0.13 | 0.37 |
| 37 | Texas profile | $27.12 | $56,410 | $43,860 | $60,940 | 4,300 | 0.31 | 0.90 |
| 38 | Montana profile | $26.94 | $56,030 | $34,790 | $77,600 | 140 | 0.28 | 0.81 |
| 39 | Arkansas profile | $26.49 | $55,100 | $39,170 | $62,370 | 450 | 0.34 | 1.02 |
| 40 | Virginia profile | $26.29 | $54,680 | $39,360 | $66,250 | 2,350 | 0.57 | 1.69 |
| 41 | Florida profile | $25.37 | $52,760 | $37,430 | $70,250 | 2,610 | 0.26 | 0.78 |
| 42 | Georgia profile | $24.35 | $50,650 | $34,600 | $74,450 | ** | ** | ** |
| 43 | Oklahoma profile | $24.34 | $50,620 | $40,350 | $68,680 | 580 | 0.34 | 1.00 |
| 44 | North Carolina profile | $24.01 | $49,940 | $38,270 | $61,590 | 1,760 | 0.36 | 1.06 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $23.90 | $49,710 | $37,870 | $61,240 | 370 | 0.18 | 0.52 |
| 46 | South Carolina profile | $23.56 | $49,010 | $35,710 | $77,960 | 410 | 0.18 | 0.52 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $23.47 | $48,820 | $33,450 | $60,040 | 160 | 0.14 | 0.41 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $22.40 | $46,600 | $30,750 | $64,600 | 210 | 0.30 | 0.88 |
| 49 | New Mexico profile | $21.63 | $44,980 | $36,160 | $59,530 | 270 | 0.30 | 0.90 |
| 50 | Maine profile | $20.54 | $42,710 | $38,400 | $73,130 | 90 | 0.14 | 0.40 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-2020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2021 Brickmasons and Blockmasons.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.