Bricklayer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a bricklayer. Feel free to use our bricklayer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a bricklayer.
Who is a Bricklayer?
A bricklayer is a skilled craftsperson who uses mortar to lay bricks to produce finished construction projects including walls, chimneys, parapets, and spandrel panels.
Bricklayers also repair and maintain masonry constructions, and they are often proficient at placing concrete blocks, as cavity walls, for example, typically require parallel brick and block wall components.
The primary responsibility of a bricklayer is the construction of dwellings and other constructions. This work may entail the construction of new structures as well as the repair or extension of existing structures. Working on residential and commercial projects, as well as chimneys and decorative masonry work, can be part of the employment. A mason, often known as a brick mason, is someone who does this type of job.
You’ll probably be working outside in all kinds of weather as a bricklayer. The jobs will almost certainly necessitate working at a height and may require the use of a variety of machines. You could be employed by a building business or working as an independent contractor on a construction site with other bricklayers and laborers. You could also be self-employed and work on commercial projects like building fireplaces, either alone or with a small team. Working hours vary, but most are between 42 and 44 hours per week.
To measure and lay bricks and other building materials, bricklayers utilize trowels, hammers, shovels, bolsters, and spirit levels. To prevent them from hardening, mortar and concrete are mixed in buckets or mixers. Special machines are occasionally used to cut bricks into the desired shapes and sizes. Hard hats, dust masks, steel-capped boots, earmuffs, safety glasses, and protective or high visibility clothes are all required for all bricklayers.
Bricklaying is a good professional choice if you don’t want to spend the rest of your life sitting inside. Bricklayers can benefit from the advantages that come with a trade that is in high demand and has a limited supply of personnel. It’s a well-paid profession with plenty of prospects for advancement.
Bricklayer Job Description
What is a bricklayer job description? A bricklayer job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a bricklayer in an organization. Below are the bricklayer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a bricklayer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a bricklayer include the following:
- Analyzing and interpreting architectural drawings.
- Taking work orders and figuring out what materials are needed.
- Measuring the distance between two places.
- Building residential/commercial chimneys and fireplaces, patios, walls, and walkways with bricks, stone, or other comparable materials.
- Lining Industrial chimneys and smokestacks with firebricks.
- Using both hand and power tools, cut and trim bricks
- Making use of Acid-resistant bricks to line or reline furnaces and boilers.
- Cleaning, painting, and restoring existing brick constructions.
- Studying and understanding Sketches and blueprints.
- Calculating angles and establishing how courses should be aligned vertically and horizontally.
- Using mortar as a binder and a trowel to level the bricks.
- Using wire clamps or cement to secure bricks.
- Working at a variety of heights on scaffolds and swing stages.
- Performing basic construction jobs with the proper equipment and tools
Qualifications
- GED certification or a high school diploma.
- Experience working on a building site for at least one year.
- Bricklaying and building construction require knowledge of the materials, procedures, and tools involved.
- Ability to solve problems
- Working independently or as part of a group is a plus.
- Have to be Physically strong with the ability to stand for extended periods of time.
- Lifting 100 pounds is a must-have skill.
Essential Skills of a Bricklayer
- technical know-how
It’s not just about the bricks and mortar when it comes to bricklaying. Before you start creating something, you’ll need to figure out what you’re going to make and how to go about doing it. This necessitates the ability to interpret blueprints and technical acumen to comprehend a project and see it through to completion.
- Capable of working at heights and in the open air.
Being a bricklayer will appeal to you if you enjoy spending as much time as possible outside. This is due to the fact that the majority of the time is spent outside. Some tasks will demand you to work at various heights, so if you don’t mind occasionally being “a little off the ground,” you should be fine.
- Team player who also can work independently.
Working in a bricklaying group – or as part of a building and construction project – allows you to be a part of a team and collaborate with others to reach a gratifying result. Great teamwork leads to high production, but there are times when you’ll need to work alone as well. As a bricklayer, you should be able to collaborate with others as well as work alone if necessary.
- Take pleasure in your practical work
Not everyone’s ideal job is sitting in an office all day typing documents. You might prefer a more hands-on approach, and what could be more practical than constructing stuff? A bricklayer is continually working with their hands and is able to see and feel the results of their labor. Bricklaying is a real, fulfilling, and extremely practical sort of labor.
- Hand-eye coordination is excellent.
When performing a sport, an instrument, or computer game, your hand movement must be in sync with your eye movement. Bricklaying, too, has its own set of challenges. If you have good hand-eye coordination, you will have a distinct edge as a bricklayer. Your end task will be faster and more precise if it is better.
- Physically capable
As a bricklayer, you must be physically fit because you operate in a very hands-on, practical capacity outdoors. The added benefit is that bricklaying should help you become in better shape! So, if you enjoy physical activity and working up a sweat every now and again, bricklaying can be the right vocation for you.
- Attitude and participation
All of the other factors are significant, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to two factors: attitude and attendance. You’ll discover what’s possible as a bricklayer – and beyond – if you show up on time and with desire and determination. This means you have the opportunity to advance as a professional builder – or as a boss in the building and construction sector – in addition to having a decent career and a nice working lifestyle.
How to Become a Bricklayer
- Get a High School Education
If you want to be a bricklayer, one of the first things you should think about is how much education you’ll need. A bachelor’s degree is held by 9.7% of Bricklayers, according to our research. In terms of higher education, we discovered that 1.7 percent of Bricklayers had obtained a master’s degree. Even though some Bricklayers have a college degree, anyone with a high school diploma or GED can work as one.
When it comes to learning how to become a Bricklayer, picking the right major is crucial. When we looked into the most frequent majors for bricklayers, we discovered that they are most likely to receive a High School Diploma or a Diploma. Associate Degrees and Bachelor’s Degrees are two other degrees that we frequently see on Bricklayer applications.
It’s critical to finish your education before looking for a career as a bricklayer, whether you’re in sixth form, secondary school, or college. While you may believe that you don’t need a degree to succeed in the bricklaying industry, you will almost certainly require some transferrable abilities. Math is a good example because accuracy is crucial in this profession. A bricklayer must determine how many bricks are required to construct a wall, as well as how much brick must be chipped away to ensure no overhang.
Staying in school until your studies are finished demonstrates your ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Completing your education despite difficulties displays your ability to persevere in the face of adversity, which is important when applying for a bricklayer job. After all, it might be long-hours work. To perform this function to the best of your ability, you’ll require mental and physical stamina, which you may show by finishing your studies.
- Look for a job as an apprentice.
Apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to break into any field. A bricklayer apprenticeship can help you build your skills and abilities in the field of bricklaying while also providing insight into what to expect on a daily basis. You can use this time to figure out if the work is right for you while you’re learning the necessary abilities. Another advantage of finding an apprenticeship is that it might aid in the development of your professional network. Showing yourself to be a successful employee will help you create good professional ties with everyone from the company where you’re an apprentice to suppliers and companies with whom you work on-site. This could lead to a job offer from the company that offered you the apprenticeship or a job offer from a supplier or competitor after you’ve shown yourself in the apprenticeship.
- Obtain additional education.
You can enroll in necessary courses or obtain external certifications if you want to become a bricklayer. Although many people earn their certificates as part of a course or apprenticeship, if you’re changing careers, you might choose to finish your certifications while still working.
Completing certification is a crucial sign of purpose for someone who is changing employment responsibilities since it demonstrates that you understand what the job entails. Employers can see if your work history isn’t connected, which may raise concerns, but by completing your certifications, you’re signaling to employers that you’re eager to hunt for work in a new field.
- Start applying for a job.
This procedure is sped up if you’ve done an apprenticeship, as many employers want to see that you’ve worked as a bricklayer before. It could be a good idea to inquire about any openings at the company where you worked as an apprentice. Alternatively, you could look for job openings on the Internet. If you’re having trouble finding any, look into forthcoming developments in your region and contact the company in charge. You can broaden your search radius if you’re willing to travel or relocate. There will almost certainly be someone recruiting, and if you have relevant experience or credentials, you may be offered an interview or a trial period. Resilience is essential in any application process. You’re bound to impress someone if you keep trying and putting up an effort with each job application.
- Think about getting certified.
Look into the many bricklayer certificates that are available. While many bricklayers are able to find work immediately after completing their apprenticeships, obtaining a certification can always help a job application by showing a candidate’s competence and commitment to their field. There are a variety of basic credentials available for brick and masonry workers in the construction industry, so do some research online to locate the one that’s right for you. To accomplish their work obligations efficiently, a bricklayer often needs a solid set of specialized construction skills. Physical strength is important because a bricklayer’s profession entails moving heavy materials and conducting manual labor. Bricklayers, therefore, should have exceptional hand dexterity to assist them in positioning and installing bricks in the proper location. Another important skill for bricklayers is familiarity with construction tools and software, which they may require to traverse a construction site and lay bricks or other heavy materials.
Where to work
Bricklayers operate in the construction business, constructing residential and commercial structures such as walls, houses, partitions, and other structures. Bricklayers can utilize a variety of materials, including clay, concrete, and stone, to make their bricks and blocks.
The bulk of bricklayers operates in the commercial and institutional construction sub-sectors of the construction industry, where they install facades, walls, courtyards, and entrance ways. The use of brick in multi-unit residential buildings is likewise becoming increasingly widespread. The growth of the construction industry will determine future worker demand.
Bricklayer Salary Scale
In Nigeria, a bricklayer normally earns roughly 90,400 NGN per month. Salaries range between 45,200 NGN (lowest) to 140,000 NGN (highest) (highest).
This is the monthly average paid, covering housing, transportation, and other things. Bricklayer pay varies greatly depending on certain factors like experience, skills, gender, and area.
As of January 27, 2022, the average Bricklayer salary in the United States was $54,559, however, the range frequently ranges between $49,794 and $67,018. Salary ranges rely on a lot of criteria, including schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the number of years you’ve worked in your field.