Brickmason Salary - Southeast
Large employment base across twelve right-to-work states
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.
The Southeast is a large employment market for masonry trades with wages near or below the national median. Florida employs over 2,600 brickmasons, but its median of $52,760 sits below that mark. The Carolinas also have large masonry workforces driven by residential and commercial construction. Virginia and Tennessee have major metro markets.
BAC union density is low across most of the Southeast. Non-union masonry contractors handle most residential and commercial work. BAC locals exist in major metros but market share is limited. The exception is major commercial and institutional projects in larger metros: Nashville, Atlanta, and Charlotte, where union masonry contractors are more prevalent. Restoration and historic preservation work is a niche in cities like Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans, even in non-union markets.
The Southeast has a low cost of living for masonry trades. Tennessee at 88.9, Georgia at 90.6, and most Southeast states are well below the national average. Florida's median of $52,760 remains below the national median of $62,120.
- →Residential brick and masonry construction across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas
- →Commercial construction in Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, and Raleigh
- →Historic preservation and restoration in Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, and other historic Southeast cities
- →Healthcare and institutional masonry construction across major Southeast metros
- →Resort and hospitality masonry work in Florida
The Southeast offers work volume. Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans are destinations for skilled restoration masons. Nashville and Atlanta have active commercial masonry markets. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $63,850 +$1,730 vs. national | 88.9 | $71,822 +$9,702 vs. national |
| Kentucky | $59,820 -$2,300 vs. national | 92.5 | $64,670 +$2,550 vs. national |
| Louisiana | $57,440 -$4,680 vs. national | 91.1 | $63,052 +$932 vs. national |
| Arkansas | $55,100 -$7,020 vs. national | 89.1 | $61,841 -$279 vs. national |
| Virginia | $54,680 -$7,440 vs. national | 99.1 | $55,177 -$6,943 vs. national |
| Florida | $52,760 -$9,360 vs. national | 100.7 | $52,393 -$9,727 vs. national |
| Georgia | $50,650 -$11,470 vs. national | 90.6 | $55,905 -$6,215 vs. national |
| North Carolina | $49,940 -$12,180 vs. national | 96.6 | $51,698 -$10,422 vs. national |
| Alabama | $49,710 -$12,410 vs. national | 85.0 | $58,482 -$3,638 vs. national |
| South Carolina | $49,010 -$13,110 vs. national | 91.9 | $53,330 -$8,790 vs. national |
| Mississippi | $48,820 -$13,300 vs. national | 86.2 | $56,636 -$5,484 vs. national |
| West Virginia | $46,600 -$15,520 vs. national | 87.9 | $53,015 -$9,105 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.