Brick Mason Salary
While being among the highest paid trades in the construction industry, brick masons’ wages have been stagnant over recent years due to the slump in the housing industry.
Although their numbers constitute a rather small category within the group of trades making up the construction industry, brick masons do very well in comparison to their colleagues. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2011 the mean or average income for a brick mason was $54,210 annually or about $27.04 per hour. This puts them only just below the first-line construction supervisors averaging $59,280 per year or $28.50 hourly. Compare this with their Construction Laborer colleagues earning $26,490 per year and you have a significant wage disparity. Brick masons also do very well in comparison to the technical trades. The mean incomes for electricians, plumbers and heating tradespeople during 2011 were $41,860, $44,330 and $38,470 respectively, or, on average, 23% less than for brick masons.
Construction is Picking Up
Considering the recent increase in activity for both residential and commercial construction, all of the building trades, and especially brick masons, have reason to celebrate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting a 40 percent increase in employment for the bricklaying trade during the ten-year period beginning 2010 through 2020. This compares with only a 14 percent increase for all occupations combined. Given this sudden growth in demand for additional bricklaying capacity, it seems inevitable that wages are bound to rise – or are they? During the single year from May 2010 to May 2011, the median annual income for Brick Masons actually dropped from $46,930 to $46,800; less than 1 percent but still a decrease. The median is that number at which half of the reported wages fall above and the other half is below.
Annual Wages for Brick Masons
Year — Median Income
2002 — $41,840
2003 — $41,550
2004 — $41,740
2005 — $41,860
2006 — $42,980
2007 — $44,070
2008 — $45,630
2009 — $46,740
2010 — $46,930
2011 — $46,800
It is clear from the data, that [Read more…] about How Much Does a Brick Mason Earn?