Brickmason Salary - Midwest
Industrial and manufacturing base with established building trades
Wage figures on this page reflect all brickmasons counted by the BLS, across union and non-union work, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. The BLS does not publish a separate journey-level tier. State figures are medians: half of workers earn more, half earn less.
In the Midwest, Illinois carries a median of $89,980 for masonry trades, driven by Chicago's BAC locals. Minnesota carries $95,220, Indiana $73,110, and Ohio $70,950. The region's institutional building activity creates consistent demand across the major metros.
BAC locals have market presence across the Midwest's major commercial markets. Chicago's masonry locals include bricklayers, tile setters, and terrazzo workers. Minneapolis, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cleveland all have active BAC programs. The institutional sector, including universities, hospitals, and government buildings, creates consistent masonry work across the region. Outside the major metros union density drops but commercial masonry projects remain predominantly BAC.
The Midwest has a low cost of living for masonry trades. Illinois posts a COL index of 95.1 against a $89,980 median. Minnesota posts a COL index of 93.4 against a $95,220 median. Indiana sits at 88.3 and Ohio at 93.7, both below-average cost of living.
- →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 destination for traveling masons. Commercial masonry work runs consistently on major projects. 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 a paycheck buys relative to the national median.
| 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.