How much do brickmasons make in Alabama in 2026?

The median brickmason in Alabama earns $49,710 a year, which works out to about $23.90 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the number most workers land on with a few years of solid experience behind them. New or lower-rung masons at the 25th percentile bring in $39,470 annually — roughly $18.98 an hour. Experienced masons who've built up speed, specialization, and a reputation push toward the 75th percentile at $57,310, or about $27.55 an hour. These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, published May 2025.

That $17,840 gap between the bottom quartile and the top quartile tells you something important: bricklaying is a trade where skill progression pays off in a measurable way. A mason who can read complex plans, handle ornamental or restoration work, and lay brick fast and straight without wasting material will earn noticeably more than someone who's still working on their technique.

Alabama's construction season runs nearly year-round, which is an advantage over northern states where cold weather can shut down masonry work for months. That said, summer heat in Alabama is no joke, and some projects slow down during peak heat periods. Overtime is common on commercial jobs with tight deadlines, and those extra hours at 1.5x the base rate can push annual take-home well above the OEWS figures, which capture base wages and don't always reflect full-year earnings including overtime.

Geography within Alabama matters. Metro areas like Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile tend to concentrate more commercial and industrial masonry work — office buildings, warehouses, institutional construction — which typically pays better than residential work scattered across rural counties. A mason working on a downtown Birmingham commercial project is more likely to be earning toward the upper end of the range than one doing single-family home work in a smaller market.

Experience level is the single biggest lever on pay. Entry-level masons fresh out of an apprenticeship or with fewer than two years on the job typically fall below the 25th percentile. Most apprenticeship programs in Alabama run three to four years and combine on-the-job hours with classroom instruction in areas like blueprint reading, math for layout, and material properties. Completing an apprenticeship and getting those hours documented is the fastest structured path from entry wages to median and beyond.

Specialization also moves the needle. Masons who can work with refractory materials (furnaces, kilns, industrial applications), handle historic restoration, or tackle stone veneer and decorative patterns often command premium rates because fewer workers have those specific skills. If you're already journeyman-level, picking up one of these specialties can be a more direct route to the 75th percentile than simply waiting for tenure.

Some workers in this trade may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

One thing to keep in mind about BLS data: the OEWS survey captures wages at a point in time and doesn't include benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, or paid leave. For a brickmason earning $49,710 in base wages, a full benefits package from a larger contractor can add meaningful real value that doesn't show up in the headline number. When comparing job offers, always look at total compensation, not just the hourly rate on the pay stub.

If you're trying to move from the median toward the top quartile, the most practical steps are: accumulate documented hours in specialized applications, take on lead or foreman responsibilities where possible, and position yourself with contractors who work on larger commercial or institutional jobs where budgets are bigger and the premium for skilled labor is real.