The Reality.
Apprenticeship through BAC (Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers) gives structured training. Non-union 'helper to mason' progression is more common but less structured. Speed and quality both matter — top masons lay 600–1000 brick a day. Back, knee, and shoulder injuries are career risks.
The Money.
| Stage | Hourly | Approx. annual (40 hr × 50 wk) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $16–$22/hr | $32,000 – $44,000 |
| Journeyman (top of scale) | $28–$48/hr | $56,000 – $96,000 |
| BLS national median (all stages) | — | $56,640 |
| BLS top 10% (90th percentile) | — | $90,910 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2024 release). Apprentice/journeyman hourly ranges synthesized from union scale data and reported non-union rates. Major-metro union scale runs higher; smaller markets run lower.
The Path.
- · OSHA 10
- · Scaffold User
What the recruiter 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.
The Tool Bill.
What you'll spend on tools in your first year. Don't let anyone tell you it's less.
More in construction trades.
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Runs the big iron — cranes, excavators, bulldozers, graders. Solid pay, strong union, less brutal on the body than other construction trades.