Bricklayers lay and bind brick, block, structural tile, and other masonry materials with mortar to construct and repair walls, arches, and structures of every kind. It’s precision work built on measurement, patience, and craftsmanship — shaping some of the most durable, load-bearing surfaces on any job site.
Bricklayers construct and repair walls, partitions, arches, chimneys, and other structures using brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block set with mortar and other bonding materials. The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) represents bricklayers alongside a wide range of allied crafts — tile setters, plasterers, cement masons, marble masons, stonemasons, restoration workers, and terrazzo and mosaic workers — whose work appears in buildings, homes, stadiums, monuments, and landmarks across the United States and Canada.
- ✓ Remove excess mortar from joints with trowels and hand tools for a clean, sealed, uniform finish.
- ✓ Build corners by setting corner poles or laying up a corner pyramid, then run guidelines off them course by course.
- ✓ Measure from reference points and mark guidelines using plumb bobs, levels, and line blocks.
- ✓ Break and cut brick, tile, or block to size using a trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
- ✓ Read blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and calculate material quantities.
- ✓ Mix mortar or grout to the right consistency and spread it onto the foundation or coursework below.
- ✓ Align structures vertically and horizontally with levels and plumbs as each course goes up.
- ✓ Clean and polish finished surfaces with hand or power tools.
Building & Construction — Materials, methods, and tools for constructing and repairing walls, foundations, and other masonry structures.
Mathematics — Calculating material quantities, coursing, and layout dimensions from blueprints and drawings.
Design — Working from architectural plans and specifications to match pattern, bond, and finish.
Mechanical — Care and use of trowels, mortar mixers, saws, and other masonry tools and equipment.
Arm-Hand Steadiness — Keeping a true line while setting brick and striking joints course after course.
Static Strength — Lifting and placing brick, block, and mortar through a full shift.
Multilimb Coordination — Working trowel, level, and materials together while moving along a wall or scaffold.
Near Vision — Judging joint lines, coursing, and pattern alignment up close.
Spatial Orientation — Keeping corners, courses, and openings true vertically and horizontally.
Extent Flexibility — Bending, reaching, and kneeling to work a wall from footing to cap.
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Prevailing wage is set per county and BAC Local 23 classification, so actual pay varies by employer and location. Source: ACT Ohio county prevailing-wage schedules.
Typical Entry Requirement — A high school diploma or GED is the standard minimum; no four-year degree is required.
Apprenticeship Path — Most bricklayers enter the trade through a registered apprenticeship sponsored by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) — specifically BAC Local 23-Ohio, organized through its Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council — combining paid on-the-job training with in-class instruction.
Core Coursework — Blueprint reading, mortar and masonry materials, layout and measurement, corner and wall construction, and tile, marble, and terrazzo fundamentals are covered alongside safety training.
Certifications — Many bricklayers pursue OSHA safety credentials, and some go on to specialty certifications in restoration, tile setting, or terrazzo and marble work as BAC represents allied crafts beyond brick alone.
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