Masonry
What Masonry Graduates Do
Your career begins with your hands on the materials, building structures that last for generations. As a new mason or tile setter, you’ll be on-site, using a trowel and level to lay courses of brick for a new building or meticulously setting stone tiles in a modern kitchen. You’ll learn to read blueprints, mix mortar, and cut materials with precision, seeing a project take shape from the ground up.
As your skills sharpen, you’ll progress from an apprentice to a journeyman, trusted with more complex projects and earning a solid wage. From there, the path often leads to leadership. Experienced masons can become first-line supervisors, trading the trowel for a tablet to manage crews, order materials, and coordinate schedules on a busy job site. Many eventually start their own successful contracting businesses. This is a hands-on craft that simply can't be automated or done from a remote office. With strong demand for skilled tradespeople, especially in finishing work like tile setting, masonry offers a stable and rewarding career path.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 15 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Masonry. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bricklayer (Brick & Tile)
RAPIDS 51 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $60,800 – $77K | 3.2% |
|
Bricklayer (Construction)
RAPIDS 52 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $60,800 – $77K | 3.2% |
|
Bricklayer (Existing Title: Bricklayer (Construction))
RAPIDS 0052HY |
4500-8000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $60,800 – $77K | 3.2% |
|
Bricklayer (Existing Title: Bricklayer (Construction))
RAPIDS 0052R |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $60,800 – $77K | 3.2% |
|
Bricklayer, Firebrick & Refractory
RAPIDS 706 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $60,800 – $77K | 3.2% |
|
Bricklayers & Mason (Existing Title: Bricklayer (Brick & Tile) Or (Masonry))
RAPIDS 0051HY |
4500-6000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $60,800 – $77K | 3.2% |
|
Marble Setter
RAPIDS 0313 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $45K – $52,240 – $65K | 10.1% |
|
Marble Setter
RAPIDS 0313HY |
4500-8000 hrs | Hybrid | $45K – $52,240 – $65K | 10.1% |
|
Monument Setter (Const)
RAPIDS 352 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $45K – $51,990 – $64K | -3.0% |
|
Mosaic Worker
RAPIDS 0353 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $45K – $52,240 – $65K | 10.1% |
|
Mosaic Worker
RAPIDS 0353HY |
4500-8000 hrs | Hybrid | $45K – $52,240 – $65K | 10.1% |
|
Stonemason
RAPIDS 0540R |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $45K – $51,990 – $64K | -3.0% |
|
Stonemason
RAPIDS 0540R-HY |
4500-8000 hrs | Hybrid | $45K – $51,990 – $64K | -3.0% |
|
Tile Setter
RAPIDS 573 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $45K – $52,240 – $65K | 10.1% |
|
Tile Setter
RAPIDS 0573HY |
4500-8000 hrs | Hybrid | $45K – $52,240 – $65K | 10.1% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Masonry
1 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA |
46 45–46 |
$33,525/yr | 17.5x |
Highest Earning Masonry Programs
Schools where Masonry graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | $33,525/yr | 46 |
Best ROI for Masonry
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Masonry.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | 17.5x | $33,525/yr | 46 |
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