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What Does it Take to Be a Brickmason or Blockmason?
Occupation Description 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.
Life As a Brickmason or Blockmason: What Do They Do?
- Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
- 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.
- Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
- Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
- Spray or spread refractory material over brickwork to protect against deterioration.
- Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Brickmason or Blockmason?
These are the skills Brickmasons and Blockmasons say are the most useful in their careers:
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Types of Brickmason or Blockmason Jobs
- Furnace Reliner
- Smelter Liner
- Reliner
- Chimney Mechanic
- Kiln Repairer
What Kind of Brickmason or Blockmason Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 91,100 jobs in the United States for Brickmason or Blockmason. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 9,400 new jobs for Brickmason or Blockmason by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 9,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Brickmason or Blockmason are Utah, Colorado, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, West Virginia, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Brickmason or Blockmason
The typical yearly salary for Brickmasons and Blockmasons is somewhere between $31,400 and $84,270.
Brickmasons and Blockmasons who work in Illinois, New York, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Brickmasons and Blockmasons in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $39,690 |
Arizona | $46,290 |
Arkansas | $44,990 |
California | $59,880 |
Colorado | $53,870 |
Connecticut | $59,320 |
Delaware | $54,610 |
District of Columbia | $63,680 |
Florida | $38,710 |
Georgia | $39,020 |
Hawaii | $64,290 |
Idaho | $46,510 |
Illinois | $74,500 |
Indiana | $53,170 |
Iowa | $53,070 |
Kansas | $56,790 |
Kentucky | $46,150 |
Louisiana | $41,430 |
Maine | $40,430 |
Maryland | $50,150 |
Massachusetts | $70,680 |
Michigan | $52,710 |
Minnesota | $61,630 |
Mississippi | $35,850 |
Missouri | $64,900 |
Montana | $45,420 |
Nebraska | $53,080 |
Nevada | $47,370 |
New Hampshire | $45,960 |
New Jersey | $71,320 |
New Mexico | $41,900 |
New York | $77,540 |
North Carolina | $39,450 |
North Dakota | $55,360 |
Ohio | $55,950 |
Oklahoma | $47,030 |
Oregon | $56,230 |
Pennsylvania | $54,710 |
Rhode Island | $65,750 |
South Carolina | $38,850 |
South Dakota | $52,020 |
Tennessee | $48,360 |
Texas | $46,420 |
Utah | $39,820 |
Vermont | $51,950 |
Virginia | $45,350 |
Washington | $69,260 |
West Virginia | $42,590 |
Wisconsin | $55,900 |
Wyoming | $53,800 |
What Tools & Technology do Brickmasons and Blockmasons Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Brickmasons and Blockmasons may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Windows
- Intuit QuickBooks
- CPR Visual Estimator
- Estimating software
- Construction Management Software ProEst
- Tradesman’s Software Master Estimator
- Daystar iStructural.com
- RISA Technologies RISA-3D
How do I Become a Brickmason or Blockmason?
What kind of Brickmason or Blockmason requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Brickmason or Blockmason?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Brickmason or Blockmason might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Brickmason or Blockmason in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Leonard G. via Creative Commons ShareAlike 1.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.