Brickmasons and Blockmasons

What the job really is

Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.

At a glance

• Sector: Construction & Extraction
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-2021
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
• Construct corners by fastening in plumb position a corner pole or building a corner pyramid of bricks, and filling in between the corners using a line from corner to corner to guide each course, or layer, of brick.
• Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.
• Calculate angles and courses and determine vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.
• Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
• Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
• Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
• Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
• Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using broom, wire brush, or scraper.
• Examine brickwork or structure to determine need for repair.
• Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, dirt, or mortar powder with water to form refractory mixtures.
• Remove burned or damaged brick or mortar, using sledgehammer, crowbar, chipping gun, or chisel.

Tools and technology

Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Windows, Adhesive trowels, Adjustable widemouth pliers, Adjustable wrenches, Air compressors, Angle grinders, Block and tackle equipment, Bolt cutters, Bosun chairs

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
• Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
• Stonemasons
• Tile and Stone Setters
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
• Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
• Carpenters
• Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Brickmasons and Blockmasons — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.