What is A bricklayer and block mason?
Both require a high school education plus extensive training programs and on-the-job training. Masons must be able to follow detailed building instructions, break or cut brick and stone to appropriate sizes, mix and apply mortar and grout, and assemble and complete required structures. Al Herndon, Northern Apprenticeship Representative for the Florida Masonry Apprenticeship and Training Foundation, says, “Bricklayers primarily work with veneer and structural brick. Masons do structural work.”
In commercial occupations, the line between the distinct arts of bricklaying and masonry is blurred. “When you get down to business, that’s what bricklayers and stonemasons do,” Herndon says. “It’s no longer two crafts, it’s merged into one.” Most of the masons are men, but there are women in the field, she says, adding, “We’ve found that our female masons are very good at detailing.
Large housing projects and commercial projects can take two or more years to complete, while residential jobs usually involve shorter jobs. Blockmasons, who often assemble key interior support structures for buildings, face increased workplace regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with extensive guidelines from architects and project engineers.
In their profession, masons often work for union and non-union contractors. They can work in local markets, but may also travel to find work, especially when local work is scarce or unavailable. “You can go wherever the work is,” Herndon says. There are crews that travel and crews that work in the area. “If you’re a traveling stonemason, you’ll probably make a little extra money.” The most experienced masons are skilled in working with all kinds of structural materials including brick, block, stone, glass and artificial.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 5.3 percent for bricklayers and blockcutters between 2020 and 2030. During this period, about 3700 jobs will be lost.
How much is the income of a bricklayer and block maker?
How to become A bricklayer and block mason?
Apprenticeship experience often lays the groundwork for a successful masonry career. “Apprentices typically come to us when they’re between the ages of 21 and 24,” Herndon says. “They’ve been out of high school for a few years and they’ve realized they need a job and not just a job. The kids who go through the apprenticeship program tend to become foremen and supervisors and they tend to stay on. And the (company) owner masonry contractors).
Job Satisfaction
The average American works well into their 60s, so workers may have an enjoyable and fulfilling career. A job with a low stress level, good work-life balance, and strong prospects for improvement, promotion, and higher pay make many employees happy. Here’s how Bricklayers and block cutters Job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.