How Much Do Bricklayers Make in the UK?

Discover how much bricklayers earn in the UK, how much they make per brick, career path, training options, pros, cons and best firms to work for.

How Much Do Bricklayers Make? Per Year, Per Day & Per Brick

Bricklayers are the backbone of the construction industry, responsible for building everything from homes and garden walls to major commercial structures. It's a physically demanding job, but the pay can be strong—especially for skilled workers. Some even earn by the brick. So how much do bricklayers make, and what does the job involve?

This guide walks through the role, training, earning potential (including per-brick rates), pros, cons, and future opportunities in the trade.

Job Description: What Do Bricklayers Do?

Bricklayers (also known as brickies or masons) build and repair walls, chimneys, arches, and other structures using bricks, blocks, and mortar. They work on residential, commercial, and industrial sites.

Core responsibilities:

  • Measuring and setting out brickwork from blueprints or drawings

  • Mixing mortar and preparing materials

  • Laying bricks or blocks in horizontal rows (courses)

  • Shaping bricks to fit curves, corners, and joints

  • Checking levels, alignment, and stability of walls

  • Pointing and finishing the brick surface

  • Repairing existing brickwork and doing repointing jobs

How Hard Is It to Become a Bricklayer?

It’s not academically difficult, but it is physically demanding. You’ll work outside in all weather, carry heavy loads, and do repetitive manual labour. You also need strong coordination, stamina, and an eye for detail.

Many start with on-the-job apprenticeships rather than classroom-based learning, though both routes are available.

Traits and Characteristics You Need

To succeed as a bricklayer, you should be:

  • Physically fit, with good upper body strength and stamina

  • Precise, able to maintain accuracy over long days

  • Comfortable working at height or on scaffolding

  • Reliable, especially in team environments

  • Hardworking and time-efficient—many jobs are priced per brick or per day

  • Able to read plans, especially at advanced levels

Do You Need Qualifications?

Not technically, but most employers or contractors expect basic training or apprenticeship completion. Typical routes include:

  • CITB Apprenticeship in Bricklaying (2–3 years)

  • NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Bricklaying

  • City & Guilds Diploma in Bricklaying

  • CSCS Card – Required to work on UK construction sites

A full apprenticeship includes on-site work and classroom time and is the most common way into the trade. You can also start as a labourer and train on the job, then take an NVQ later.

What Are the Levels and Specialisations?

Bricklayers often move up in roles based on skill, speed, and leadership.

  • Apprentice Bricklayer – Learning under supervision

  • Improver / Labourer – Assisting, learning, basic block work

  • Qualified Bricklayer – Can work independently

  • Advanced Bricklayer – Takes on arches, complex designs, custom masonry

  • Foreman or Supervisor – Oversees site teams and workflow

  • Specialist roles – e.g. stonemason, heritage brickwork, firebrick installation

Some bricklayers go on to run their own small firms or subcontract for large developers.

What Experience Do You Need?

  • Apprenticeship or minimum 1–2 years labouring under a skilled bricklayer

  • Understanding of site safety

  • Practical knowledge of materials and tools

  • Ability to work as part of a team and under instruction

Experience often matters more than formal education.

Benefits of Being a Bricklayer

  • High earning potential once skilled

  • No degree required—you can earn while you train

  • Flexible work—self-employed or sub-contractor options

  • Strong demand—housing shortages and construction projects across the UK

  • Satisfying work—visible results at the end of each day

  • Opportunity to go self-employed

Drawbacks and Negatives

  • Physically exhausting—risk of repetitive strain and long-term wear

  • Work outdoors—all weather conditions

  • Job insecurity in winter—slow season for construction

  • Injury risk—manual labour, tools, scaffolding hazards

  • Early mornings and long shifts are common

How Much Do Bricklayers Make?

Earnings vary based on skill, speed, and location.

  • Apprentice: £10,000–£18,000

  • Newly Qualified: £24,000–£32,000

  • Experienced Bricklayer: £35,000–£50,000

  • Self-Employed: £60,000–£100,000+

Tax Example:

A bricklayer earning £42,000/year would pay:

  • Income Tax: approx. £5,432

  • National Insurance: approx. £3,549

  • Take-home pay: approx. £33,000/year or £635/week

How Much Do Bricklayers Make Per Brick?

Some self-employed or subcontract bricklayers are paid per brick. Rates vary by region and job type.

Typical per-brick rate:

  • £0.40 – £0.60 per brick

A fast, experienced bricklayer can lay:

  • 500–700 bricks per day, depending on complexity and weather

  • At £0.50/brick: £250–£350 per day

This translates to £1,250–£1,750/week (before tax and expenses).

Some bricklayers are also paid per 1,000 bricks laid or on a per-wall basis for large projects.

What’s the Future for Bricklayers?

The trade is stable, with good long-term prospects. The UK continues to face a skills shortage in construction, especially as older tradespeople retire and fewer younger workers enter the industry.

New technologies like robotic bricklaying and prefabricated blocks may change how the work is done, but human skill will still be essential for detailed and heritage projects.

Demand is particularly strong in:

  • Housing developments

  • Infrastructure builds (schools, hospitals, public buildings)

  • Renovation and restoration work

  • Eco-building and energy-efficient construction

Best Companies and Firms to Work For

While many bricklayers work for local subcontractors or self-employed, top employers include:

  • Taylor Wimpey

  • Barratt Developments

  • Bellway Homes

  • Persimmon Homes

  • Balfour Beatty

  • Laing O’Rourke

  • Berkeley Group

  • McCarthy & Stone

Private contractors doing high-end residential or heritage projects also pay well.

Final Thought

Bricklaying offers a solid, practical career with real earning power—especially for those who work fast, work smart, and are open to self-employment. It doesn’t require university, but it does require grit, consistency and pride in your work. Whether you're aiming to join a major firm or run your own business, it’s a trade that continues to build futures—literally.