Bricklayer
Bricklayers build houses, repair walls and chimneys and refurbish decorative stonework. They also work on heritage and restoration projects.
Also known as: Mason, brickie
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£45,000 a year
- Typical hours40 to 44 a week
What you'll do
As a bricklayer, you would:
- read and follow building plans for each job
- measure work areas and set out the first rows of bricks or blocks
- mix mortar by hand or with a mechanical mixer
- use a trowel to lay mortar and place bricks
- shape and trim bricks using hammers, chisels and power tools
- check rows are straight using a spirit level, laser level or plumb line
- repoint brickwork to repair old or damaged mortar joints
- build architectural and ornamental brickwork features
Working environment
You could work on a construction site or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers, at height and you'll travel often.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to work well with your hands
- the ability to organise your time and workload
- concentration skills
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a bricklayer
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
College
You can take a college course like:
- basic construction skills
- bricklaying
- T Level in On Site Construction
These courses teach you some of the skills you'll need to find a trainee bricklayer job with a construction company.
Some colleges and private training organisations may offer short or part-time bricklaying 'taster' courses. These may be of help to you if you're thinking of a change in career.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:
- Onsite Trades Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
- Bricklaying Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Craft Bricklaying Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a construction site labourer or hod carrier, with a bricklaying team or 'gang', and do training on the job to become a bricklayer.
Foundation apprenticeship
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- are in care or have been in care
- are in prison or have been in prison
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a:
- bricklaying team supervisor
- construction estimator
- site inspector
You might continue to develop your craft skills to specialise in heritage brickwork or stonemasonry.
You could also become a self-employed contractor or set up your own business.
A further option is to train apprentice bricklayers at a further education college.
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleStonemason
- Job roleConstruction site supervisor
- Job roleConstruction labourer
- Job roleEstimator
- Job roleSteeplejack
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0