Mason Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a mason. Feel free to use our mason job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a mason.
Who is a Mason?
A mason can simply be defined as an individual that uses various types of materials such as blocks, concretes, and bricks while working. These materials are used to construct structures. Importantly, these astute professionals are hired to build structures in both residential and commercial settings; their work involves building interior chimneys and exterior walls. A mason is renowned for using construction equipment and tools as well. Often referred to as construction professionals, they cut stones, mix mortar, and lay pavers to deliver a project’s target. A mason is renowned for his or her mathematical prowess which enables them to decipher complex building plans and cut materials to fit the project site. Possessing excellent communication skills is another distinct attribute of masons; due to the nature of the job, these skills allow them to coexist with other workers on site. Relatively, they work in small groups to get to enhance the building or construction. Typically, masons work under the supervision of a foreman; foremen assign project tasks and functions to masons. In addition, masons construct fences, walkways, and other relevant structures for clients, companies, and businesses. There are different forms of masons based on the building aspect they specialize in; these include stonemasons, brick masons, bricklayers, or block masons respectively.
An increase in the global population will invariably lead to an increase in the demand for structures and buildings. Moreover, existing buildings must be maintained, checked, and kept safe. These and more make the role of the mason a crucial one. Without a doubt, masonry is one of the most stressful professions in the world. As a mason, you will mostly stand, bend, lift heavy materials and kneel while working. This exposes masons to the risk of accidents and injuries. Arguably, such injuries can be combated by wearing protective equipment. The risk of injury and accident also extends to indoor work; there is an inherent risk of injury from slips and falls as well. However, a mason is exposed to unconventional weather conditions when working outdoors. Most times, work is stopped when such happens especially if it involves heavy rainfall and wind. These professionals work full-time and are often required to work overtime. They tend to have inconsistent schedules, especially during periods where building and construction work are rare. Significantly, these construction experts work to restore and repair buildings as part of their duties.
Similarly, masons who succeed in their craft employ medieval techniques, are keen to learn new ideas, have an enormous ability to solve problems, and can use their hands diligently. To stand out among their peers, most masons undertake an apprenticeship before progressing in the field. Travel is another essential cog in a mason’s career as is safety and physical fitness. To effectively perform their duties, some masons might have to move from one construction site or location to another.
Mason Job Description
Below are the mason job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a mason 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 mason include the following:
- Cut openings into walls, ceilings, and floors constructed of masonry materials.
- Assist in building layout, framing, sheathing, and roofing structures.
- Tear down, rebuild, and point chimneys.
- Use equipment and tools to safely perform basic construction tasks.
- Discover safety breaches and fix them according; if the issues persist or become too serious, report to the site manager. .
- Report writing and documentation of every activity carried out on site.
- Cooperate with other professionals on the job site where necessary.
- Mix cement and mortar on the job site as needed.
- Read and follow technical drawings.
- Work according to the client or organization’s specifications.
- Train apprentices as needed to ensure projects are completed on time.
- Maintain tools and workplaces in a clean, neat, and tidy manner.
- Cut, shape, and dress building and other materials.
- Lift, carry, and place prepared blocks in the right place.
- Restore old and worn masonry.
- Research on new trends and development in the industry.
- Report equipment malfunction to the supervisor.
Qualifications and Requirement
Generally, masons don’t need higher education to begin their profession. Once you are 18 years old and have expertise in one or more masonry, you can be recruited by construction sites and clients respectively. Moreover, a mason is trained on-the-job when hired by senior masons or other staff. Although you don’t need to have work experience to become a mason, you need to present the following qualifications to be considered for employment as a mason;
- Be an apprentice: An apprenticeship is meant to train and prepare the prospective mason for the role; usually, it takes 3 to 4 years to complete as well as a certain number of hours. During the apprenticeship, the individual s taught the basics of building code requirements, how to perform first aid, and how to interpret building codes and maths. After the apprenticeship, the individual can perform their duties without supervision and are referred to as junior construction workers. An advantage of completing this program is that it imbibes skills and relative experience to the individual. Candidates who have completed an apprenticeship have higher chances of being recruited.
- Secondary school certification is another masonry qualification. During high school, students are taught technical subjects, English language, and mathematics that are necessary for starting a career as a mason. This form of education is crucial for communication and teamwork on the building site. In the absence of a degree, a high school certificate can suffice. To be at an advantage, the candidate can enroll in technical courses in construction and welding in an accredited citadel of learning.
- License: A license is required by some employers; however, this differs from one location to another. In some places, the candidate is mandated to register for and ace various certification exams, provide financial records, and submit referees’ reports to become certified masons. An association that provides vital resources for candidates who want to get certified as masons is the Mason Contractors Association.
Essential Skills and Competencies
An individual needs certain skills and abilities to excel in the field of masonry. To be successful as a mason, the individual must develop certain qualities and skills that are needed in the occupation such as;
- You must be agile: Agility simply means the art of being agile. Being able to decipher things on the construction site is an important skill for masons. Similarly, these professionals should be able to have the excellent hand-eye coordination to become mentally agile.
- You must be physically fit: Although stamina and physical fitness is an essential cog in every occupation, it is arguably more necessary for masons. This is because this profession involves heavy lifting and carrying of building materials while working. As aforementioned, masons often bend, stand, and kneel. One way to promote your physical fitness is by engaging in one or more cardiovascular exercises.
- Attention to detail: The job of a mason often involves sketching and perusing buildings; to successfully construct a structure according to the demands of the client, you need to be attentive always.
- Manual dexterity: You will have to apply smooth, even layers of mortar and quickly set blocks; this requires manual dexterity.
- Knowledge of maths: This skill can be honed from high school. Mathematics is an important part of a mason’s job. A mason needs to be skillful in maths to read and interpret blueprints and calculate the exact amount of materials needed for a structure.
- Ability to Read: Reading and comprehension skills are vital for masons; this enables them to understand best practices and other written instructions.
How to Become a Mason
There are several routes an individual can take to become a mason; however, the best way to begin a career in masonry is enumerated below;
- Become physically fit: A successful constructor or builder must have physical fitness and stamina. This enables them to move and lift heavy materials from one place to another at the construction site. Therefore, if you plan to become a mason, the first step is to build your physical fitness and stamina at a home or commercial gym.
- Complete your secondary education: Next, enroll in high school and earn a secondary education certificate. Though higher degrees are not necessary for employment, some employers prefer candidates that possess a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Enroll for a one-year vocational course: Several institutions provide one-year technical and vocational courses for masons. These courses enable them to develop skills and expertise in the field. Also, it serves as a precursor to an apprenticeship. In fact, some firms and construction companies mandate candidates to take such courses as a prerequisite for obtaining an apprenticeship.
- Become an apprentice: After completing a one-year vocational course in masonry, you should enroll in an apprenticeship. There are various construction and building companies and sites that accept apprentices. You can also enroll for the aforementioned in various mason’s associations. The advantage of such a program is that it provides students with training and knowledge both in the classroom and on the field. However, some apprentices receive weekly or monthly pay while others do not. Notwithstanding, most of these programs are sponsored by unions and in rare cases employers. Physical fitness, being at least 18 years of age, and a convincing argument on why you want to become a mason are some of the requirements for this program. During the program, students are taught how to mix materials, lay blocks, read blueprints, compose mortar, and how to use the right tools while working.
- Complete licensing requirements: Based on where you intend to practice masonry, a license may be mandated. Some employers prefer licensed masons to unlicensed ones. To be on the safe side, enroll for licensing regardless of your location. Moreover, the career involves travel at times. Also, if you plan to start up a masonry business or firm, you will need a license. Depending on the licensing body, the individual often completes an exam and training to obtain a license.
- Start as a laborer: Some employers require aspiring masons to start as construction laborers before growing into masons. This is to enable them to gain relevant experience related to the sector.
- Grow into a mason: While working as a laborer, learn the necessary skills needed. Also, update your resume to include your education, vocational training, skills, and license. Make sure the resume is tailored to any masonry job you are applying for. This is to ensure that your application beats the application tracking system. Remember, others might be applying for the same position too.
Where to Work as a Mason
The career path for someone looking into the masonry skilled trade has different starting points. While some can be hired as masons, others tend to start as laborers, helpers, or mason assistants. Masons who start as a helper or laborers learn the basics of the profession including material types as well as learning their way around project sites. Project sites are an environment that needs to be learned; it is important for individuals just starting to learn how project sites work and how to best navigate them. As individuals grow in their positions, there are several opportunities for different career paths and employment. They may continue in the field to become foremen or superintendents. They may also focus on becoming a project estimator. This may lead them to become small business owners. Importantly, a mason easily finds work in both commercial and residential structures and sites.
Mason Salary Scale
The salary scale for these professionals varies depending on the location, employer, and masonry specialization. Generally, they earn an average salary of $21.54 hourly which is equivalent to $44,810 annually according to reports. The highest earners make up to $77,360 yearly while the low earners make $29,050 annually. Most employers tend to review the mason’s wages regularly.