Bricklayer
Mason, brickie
Bricklayers build houses, repair walls and chimneys, and refurbish decorative stonework. They also work on restoration projects.
Salary Range: £15,000 to £35,000
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 a:
- Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills
- Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying
- Level 2 Diploma in Trowel Occupations
These courses will teach you some of the skills needed for the job and can help you to find a trainee position with a building company.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
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Apprenticeship
You could start by doing an intermediate bricklaying apprenticeship.
This will usually take 2 years to complete. You’ll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
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Work
You could start as a construction site labourer and take training on the job to become a bricklayer.
More information
Registration
- you’ll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Professional and industry bodies
You can join an organisation like the Federation of Master Builders for professional recognition and training opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a bricklayer from Go Construct and House Building Careers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of maths
- to be flexible and open to change
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- measuring work areas and setting out the first rows of bricks or blocks
- mixing mortar by hand or with a mechanical mixer
- applying mortar with a trowel and laying bricks on top of each other
- shaping and trimming bricks using hammers, chisels and power tools
- checking that rows are straight using a spirit level and plumb line
Working environment
You could work on a construction site.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, at height, physically demanding and you’ll travel often.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a construction site supervisor, or move into related areas like estimating or apprentice training.
You could also specialise in heritage work, stonemasonry, or set up your own business.