Brickmason Salary - Midwest
Industrial stronghold with Chicago driving significant wage premiums
Wage figures reflect all brickmasons across all employment types -- union and non-union, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. Union journeymen typically earn above the state median. Non-union residential work typically falls below it. State figures are averages -- wages vary significantly between metro and rural markets within the same state. City-level data coming soon.
The Midwest is a strong performing region for masonry trades with Illinois leading at $89,980 median driven by Chicago's BAC locals. Minnesota at $95,220, Indiana at $73,110, and Ohio at $70,950 round out a consistently strong region. Chicago's masonry market is one of the most active in the country for commercial brick and stone work, and the region's institutional building activity creates consistent demand across the major metros.
BAC locals have strong market presence across the Midwest's major commercial markets. Chicago's masonry locals -- bricklayers, tile setters, and terrazzo workers -- are among the highest-paying in the country. Minneapolis, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cleveland all have active BAC programs. The institutional sector -- universities, hospitals, government buildings -- creates consistent high-quality masonry work across the region. Outside the major metros union density drops but commercial masonry projects remain predominantly BAC.
The Midwest offers excellent purchasing power for masonry trades. Illinois at 95.1 COL with $89,980 median is strong value. Minnesota at 93.4 with $95,220 median is outstanding -- one of the best combinations in the country for masons. Indiana at 88.3 and Ohio at 93.7 offer solid wages at below-average cost of living. The Midwest provides the best combination of masonry wages and affordable living outside the highest-paying Northeast markets.
- →Commercial and institutional brick and masonry construction in the Chicago metro
- →Higher education and healthcare facility masonry across the region
- →Historic renovation and restoration work in Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland
- →Industrial facility masonry -- refractory bricklayers in steel mills and industrial furnaces
- →Residential brick construction in suburban markets around major Midwest metros
Chicago is a top destination for traveling masons. BAC local scale rates are among the highest in the country and commercial masonry work runs consistently on major projects. Minnesota pays the highest state median in the region at $95,220. Refractory bricklayers are in consistent demand in the region's steel and industrial markets. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Chicago and Midwest openings.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living -- what your paycheck actually buys relative to the national average.
| State | Median Annual | COL Index | Effective Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $95,220 +$33,100 vs. national | 93.4 | $101,949 +$39,829 vs. national |
| Illinois | $89,980 +$27,860 vs. national | 95.1 | $94,616 +$32,496 vs. national |
| Wisconsin | $80,120 +$18,000 vs. national | 97.4 | $82,259 +$20,139 vs. national |
| North Dakota | $79,940 +$17,820 vs. national | 90.7 | $88,137 +$26,017 vs. national |
| Indiana | $73,110 +$10,990 vs. national | 88.3 | $82,797 +$20,677 vs. national |
| Missouri | $72,370 +$10,250 vs. national | 88.6 | $81,682 +$19,562 vs. national |
| Ohio | $70,950 +$8,830 vs. national | 93.7 | $75,720 +$13,600 vs. national |
| Iowa | $69,440 +$7,320 vs. national | 88.6 | $78,375 +$16,255 vs. national |
| Michigan | $63,500 +$1,380 vs. national | 93.9 | $67,625 +$5,505 vs. national |
| Nebraska | $61,200 $-920 vs. national | 91.3 | $67,032 +$4,912 vs. national |
| South Dakota | $60,380 $-1,740 vs. national | 94.1 | $64,166 +$2,046 vs. national |
| Kansas | $59,220 $-2,900 vs. national | 87.6 | $67,603 +$5,483 vs. national |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - Brickmasons - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.