72320 – Bricklayers
Lead statement
Bricklayers lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone and other similar materials to construct or repair walls, arches, chimneys, fireplaces and other structures in accordance with blueprints and specifications. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
- Read sketches and blueprints to calculate materials required
- Cut and trim bricks and concrete blocks to specification using hand and power tools
- Prepare and lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone, structural tiles and similar materials to construct or repair walls, foundations and other structures in residential, industrial and commercial construction
- Lay bricks or other masonry units to build residential or commercial chimneys and fireplaces
- Lay radial bricks to build masonry shells of industrial chimneys
- Lay or install firebricks to line industrial chimneys and smokestacks
- Line or reline furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations using refractory or acid-resistant bricks, refractory concretes, plastic refractories and other materials
- Lay bricks, stone or similar materials to provide veneer facing to walls or other surfaces
- Construct and install prefabricated masonry units
- Lay bricks or other masonry units to build patios, garden walls and other decorative installations
- May restore, clean or paint existing masonry structures.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program ora combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in bricklaying is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for bricklayers is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Yukon.
- Trade certification for stonemasons is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Trade certification for restoration stone masons is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified bricklayers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Example job titles
apprentice bricklayer · artificial stone setter · brick chimney builder · brick setter · bricklayer · brickmason · refractory brick repairer-mason · refractory bricklayer · refractory builder · journeyman/woman mason · stonecutter · stonemason · industrial furnace brickmason · industrial oven brickmason · stone setter · concrete block setter · terra cotta mason · smokestack bricklayer · ladle repair bricklayer · kiln repair bricklayer · furnace lining bricklayer · maintenance bricklayer · fireplace brickmason · permastone installer · simulated stone setter · cinder block mason · residential construction bricklayer · chimney repair stonemason · fire brick liner repairer · refractory mason · journeyman/woman stonemason · artificial stone mason · journeyman/woman brickmason · fire brick layer · permastone mason · simulated stone mason · cinder block setter · masonry silo erector · apprentice brickmason · apprentice mason
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $25.78 | $40.00 | $48.78 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.00 | $38.50 | $52.47 |
| Nova Scotia | $22.50 | $31.00 | $36.63 |
| New Brunswick | $21.00 | $32.00 | $48.31 |
| Quebec | $26.31 | $40.89 | $43.85 |
| Ontario | $25.00 | $38.00 | $50.83 |
| Manitoba | $25.41 | $38.88 | $44.20 |
| Saskatchewan | $25.45 | $36.30 | $42.67 |
| Alberta | $28.00 | $41.85 | $54.00 |
| British Columbia | $27.50 | $38.00 | $50.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.