Masonry
Bricklaying, stonework, tile setting, and concrete, are skilled crafts with lasting visible results.
How to Become a Mason: A Complete Career Guide
Masonry is one of the oldest skilled trades in human history and one of the most satisfying as the work you do is permanent, visible, and built to last centuries. Masons work with brick, stone, concrete block, tile, and other masonry materials to construct and finish buildings and infrastructure. If you're considering masonry as a career, this guide covers the full path from apprentice to journeyman.
What Masons Actually Do
Masonry covers a wide range of specializations, all involving the installation of durable materials.
Bricklayers construct walls, facades, fireplaces, chimneys, and other structures using brick and mortar. One of the most recognized masonry trades with strong demand in both new construction and restoration.
Block Masons work with concrete masonry units (CMU) to build structural walls and foundations in commercial and industrial construction. Heavy work with consistent demand.
Stone Masons work with natural and manufactured stone — building walls, laying stone flooring, installing cladding, and restoring historic structures. A highly skilled specialty with premium pay for experienced workers.
Tile Setters install ceramic, porcelain, stone, and glass tile in floors, walls, and countertops in residential and commercial buildings. Precision work with strong demand driven by renovation and new construction.
Terrazzo Workers install decorative flooring systems using marble chips, glass, and other aggregates set in cement or epoxy. A specialized finish trade with consistent commercial demand.
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers place and finish concrete flatwork — floors, sidewalks, driveways, and structural slabs. Often represented by the BAC or OPCMIA depending on the region.
Tuckpointers and Restoration Masons specialize in the repair and restoration of historic masonry — cleaning, repointing mortar joints, and matching original materials. Growing demand as aging building stock requires maintenance.
The Path: Apprentice → Journeyman
Apprentice (Year 1–3)
BAC apprenticeships typically run 3 years. You work full-time on job sites alongside journeyman masons, with classroom instruction covering blueprint reading, material identification, layout techniques, and safety. Starting pay is typically 40–50% of journeyman scale with structured raises every six months.
Journeyman Mason
After completing your apprenticeship and meeting your state's journeyman requirements, you can work independently on most masonry projects. Journeyman masons with specialized skills in stone, tile, or terrazzo earn more than general bricklayers.
Foreman / Contractor
With experience and contractor licensing, you can supervise crews and run your own masonry business. Experienced masonry contractors with strong reputations and commercial relationships build highly profitable businesses.
How to Get Started
Union Apprenticeship
The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers runs apprenticeship programs through local unions across North America. Structured training, strong wages, and employer-paid benefits. Check bacweb.org for programs near you.
Non-Union Apprenticeship
Independent masonry contractors and the Mason Contractors Association of America sponsor apprenticeship programs in some markets. The same journeyman credential at completion with wages and benefits varying by employer.
All paths lead to the same journeyman credential. Pick based on what's available in your area.
What You'll Earn
Mason wages vary significantly by specialization. Stone masons, terrazzo workers, and tile setters with commercial experience earn more than general bricklayers. Here's a realistic snapshot for 2026:
1st Year Apprentice: $15-$19/hr | $31K-$40K annually
Mid-Apprentice (Year 2): $18-$26/hr | $37K-$54K annually
Journeyman Bricklayer: $22-$48/hr | $46K-$100K annually
Journeyman Tile Setter: $21-$44/hr | $44K-$92K annually
Journeyman Stone Mason: $26-$50/hr | $54K-$104K annually
Terrazzo Worker: $24-$48/hr | $50K-$100K annually
Foreman / Contractor: $38-$65/hr | $79K-$135K annually
Masonry wages are regional -- union markets in major metros pay significantly more than non-union work in smaller markets. Restoration and historic preservation work commands premium rates for experienced specialists.
State Licensing Requirements
Masonry licensing is less standardized than electrical or plumbing. Most states don't require individual journeyman licensing for masons — licensing requirements apply primarily to contractors. Some states and municipalities require mason contractor licenses with documented experience and exam requirements.
Tile setters working on commercial projects may need CTEF (Ceramic Tile Education Foundation) certifications, which are increasingly recognized as the industry standard for tile installation quality.
Always check your state's contractor licensing board and your regional BAC council for specific requirements.
Job Outlook
Demand for masons is steady, driven by new commercial and residential construction, infrastructure work, and a growing restoration and historic preservation market. The aging building stock in major cities is creating increasing demand for tuckpointing and restoration specialists. Masonry is one of the trades least susceptible to automation — the craft skills required for quality work are difficult to replicate mechanically.
Is This the Right Career for You?
Masonry suits people who take pride in craftsmanship, don't mind physically demanding outdoor work, and want to build something that lasts. The work is highly visible and permanent — masonry work done well stands for generations.
It's a strong fit if you want a trade with genuine craft depth. The specializations within masonry — stone, terrazzo, restoration — have real artisan components that reward people who care about quality. It's also one of the more accessible trades to enter independently as a contractor once you have journeyman skills and a client base.
Next Steps
Find BAC programs in your area at bacweb.org. Contact your local and ask about apprenticeship application windows and requirements. Get your OSHA 10 certification before applying, it's required by most programs. Consider which masonry specialization interests you the most (bricklaying, tile, stone, or restoration) and ask your local union about which tracks are available. Get your basics in order: a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, and the ability to pass a drug test.
Fast-Track Your Application
BAC locals recognize MC3 and ARP pre-apprenticeship credentials. The masonry trades have some of the most accessible pre-apprenticeship pathways -- programs covering bricklaying, tile setting, and cement masonry are available through Building Trades Councils in most major markets. Some programs are paid -- contact your local council to find out what's available.
ARPs teach the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) -- a standardized 120-hour construction program created by the North American Building Trades Unions. Programs are offered through local Building Trades Councils across the country, typically run 4-8 weeks, and are free to participants. Graduates receive OSHA 10 certification and a guaranteed interview with union apprenticeship programs in their area. Some programs are paid -- compensation varies by market and funding source.
- →Free in most markets -- federally supported through WIOA workforce funding
- →OSHA 10 and CPR certification included
- →Guaranteed interview upon completion -- bypasses standard application pools and testing
- →Some programs offer hourly pay or weekly stipends during training
- →Wraparound services available at some locations
- →Contact your local Building and Construction Trades Council to find programs in your area
Federally funded training available in most major metro areas that integrates the MC3 curriculum. Free to eligible participants. Many Job Corps programs have direct-entry or guaranteed interview agreements with local JATCs.
- →Federally funded -- free to eligible participants
- →MC3 curriculum -- recognized by union JATCs
- →Direct-entry or guaranteed interview agreements in many markets
- →Available in most major metro areas
A paid MC3 pre-apprenticeship program with direct IBEW and Building Trades connections in the Memphis market. Participants earn hourly wages during training, graduate with OSHA 10 and CPR certifications, receive a guaranteed interview in their trade of choice, and may be eligible for wraparound services including rent, utility, and grocery assistance.
- →Paid training at $12-14.50/hr
- →OSHA 10 and CPR certification included
- →Guaranteed interview in the trade of your choice
- →Wraparound services for eligible participants
- →Covers Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters, Iron Workers, Painters, Sheet Metal Workers, Laborers, Operating Engineers, and more
TradePathHub founder Brian Peterson was a paid instructor for MSCC's inaugural cohort, teaching construction mathematics. Preparing course material exposed him firsthand to how scattered and difficult to navigate the information landscape was for people entering the trades. That gap is what TradePathHub was built to fill.
Visit Mid-South Construction Careers (MSCC) →Nashville's MC3 program offers a weekly stipend during training with direct Building Trades connections. Graduates receive OSHA 10 certification and a guaranteed interview pathway into union apprenticeship programs in the Nashville market.
- →$200/week stipend during training
- →OSHA 10 certification included
- →Guaranteed interview pathway into union apprenticeships
- →Direct Nashville Building Trades connections
Pre-apprenticeship programs exist in most major metro areas but aren't always easy to find. Your local Building and Construction Trades Council is the most reliable source for what's active in your market.
Make the Most of the Waitlist
BAC locals vary in application windows and waitlist length by market and trade specialization. The masonry trades reward physical preparation and material familiarity -- use the waiting period to build both.
General construction labor documents hands-on work history. Masonry labor specifically -- tending masons, moving material, mixing mortar -- is the most directly relevant experience and may be covered by a BAC labor classification in your market.
Working at a masonry or hardscape supply yard builds material knowledge -- brick grades, block types, stone species, mortar specifications, setting materials. Direct exposure to the products of the trade.
Residential tile and stone installation work builds hands-on familiarity with setting materials, layout techniques, and substrate preparation. The BAC represents tile setters and marble masons -- relevant experience for those tracks.
Paver installation, retaining wall construction, and landscape masonry work builds comfort with masonry materials and layout. Not union work but documents relevant manual skills.
Required or preferred by most union masonry contractors. Take this first.
Standard safety credential. Required by many contractors.
The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation Level 1 certification covers tile installation fundamentals. For applicants interested in the tile setting track, this is a meaningful pre-apprenticeship credential.
Forklift operation is common on masonry sites for moving heavy material. Certification differentiates your application and is immediately useful on the job.
Understanding brick grades, block types, mortar specifications (Type S, Type N, Type M), and grout properties is foundational knowledge. The Brick Industry Association and NCMA publish free technical resources.
Masonry layout -- establishing level lines, corners, leads, and coursing -- is a fundamental skill. Studying basic masonry layout before your apprenticeship gives you a head start on the most technically demanding early tasks.
Masonry involves constant calculation -- material quantities, coursing heights, bond patterns. Strong basic math skills before day one make you a faster, more accurate worker from the start.
Contact your BAC local every 60-90 days. BAC locals vary more than most unions in which trades they cover and how they manage apprenticeship intake. Ask specifically which trades your local covers and whether there are any pre-apprenticeship or community work opportunities.