MASON
Lays brick, block, and stone. Old trade, slow to change, body-intensive. Skilled masons command top pay; helpers, not so much. Connecticut is not a right-to-work state — union density is higher than average and prevailing wage rules cover most public projects.
The License.
Most states issue a journeyman license (allows you to work under a licensed contractor) and a separate master or contractor license (allows you to pull permits and run your own business). The journeyman license typically requires completing your apprenticeship and passing a written exam; the master/contractor license requires additional field hours — usually 2 years as a journeyman — and a separate exam.
Requirements in Connecticut: confirm current hour and exam requirements directly with Connecticut Dept. of Consumer Protection — Occupational Licensing. Rules update frequently and our data reflects published standards as of early 2025.
The Money.
Pay data for this trade in Connecticut. BLS metro-level data was not available for this combination. National medians shown below.
| Stage | Hourly range | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $16–$22/hr | $32,000 – $44,000 |
| Journeyman scale | $28–$48/hr | $56,000 – $96,000 |
| BLS national median | — | $56,640 |
| BLS top 10% | — | $90,910 |
Connecticut is NOT a right-to-work state. Union scale in Connecticut's major metros typically runs 20–40% above the national median. Prevailing wage laws apply to most public-sector projects.
The Path.
Connecticut is a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) state — it administers its own apprenticeship programs separately from the federal RAPIDS system. Contact the state labor department directly or visit apprenticeship.gov and filter by state.
- · Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
The Exam.
Most construction trade licenses at the contractor level require a business and law exam in addition to the trade exam. Connecticut may have this structure. Pass rates are not published uniformly — ask the licensing board directly for current data. Prevailing wage requirements in Connecticut apply to most public-sector projects, which ties exam and licensure to wage scale compliance for contractors.
Be honest about pass rates. Many licensing boards do not publish them. When they do, first-time pass rates for journeyman exams in the trades typically run 50–75%. Preparation time varies — most serious candidates spend 60–120 hours on exam prep. Use code books from the correct edition, not what's currently in print.
What recruiters won't tell you.
- 01Body-intensive trade. Many masons retire (or change trades) by 50 due to joint issues.
- 02Weather-dependent — bad winters mean bad paychecks in non-Sunbelt states.
- 03Non-union masonry can be exploitative — wage theft and unpaid OT are documented industry-wide.