How much do brickmasons make in Indiana in 2026?

The median brickmason in Indiana earns $73,110 per year, which works out to about $35.15 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits in the middle of the range — half of brickmasons in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're trying to figure out where you stand or what to aim for, those are the numbers to anchor on.

The full spread runs from $56,980 at the 25th percentile (~$27.39/hr) up to $80,210 at the 75th percentile (~$38.56/hr). That's a $23,230 gap between a worker in the lower quarter and one in the upper quarter — real money that compounds over a career. The 25th-percentile figure typically reflects newer journeymen or workers in slower regional markets. The 75th percentile reflects experienced masons who've built a track record on commercial or industrial projects, can read blueprints independently, and may take on lead or foreman responsibilities.

These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, published May 2025. The BLS collects data directly from employers, which means the numbers reflect actual wages paid — base hourly rates, shift differentials, and some forms of additional pay. What the BLS does not capture is overtime earnings, performance bonuses, or the value of benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. In the trades, those additions can meaningfully change your total compensation picture.

Bricklaying work in Indiana is tied closely to construction seasonality. Masonry is weather-dependent — mortar doesn't set properly below freezing, and sustained cold can shut down exterior work entirely. That means winter months often bring reduced hours or layoffs for masons who work primarily on outdoor residential and commercial projects. Workers who hustle to build overtime hours in the spring through fall can offset that gap, but annual earnings for a mason who loses six to eight weeks of work in winter will run below the median even if their hourly rate is competitive.

Geography within Indiana matters too. The Indianapolis metro area generates consistent commercial and industrial masonry demand — office buildings, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and institutional construction all require skilled brick and block work. Fort Wayne, Evansville, and the northwest Indiana corridor near Chicago also support steadier commercial pipelines than rural markets. A mason in a rural county may face thinner local demand and longer drive times to job sites, which erodes effective hourly earnings.

Experience is the most reliable driver of pay progression in this trade. Most Indiana brickmasons enter through an apprenticeship, typically running three to four years and combining on-the-job hours with classroom instruction in layout, estimating, and materials. Apprentice wages start below the journeyman rate and step up on a set schedule. Once you hit journeyman status, your rate climbs based on specialization and project complexity. Masons who add skills in restoration work — tuckpointing, historic brick matching, or ornamental masonry — can command premium rates because those skills are genuinely scarce.

Some brickmasons in Indiana are covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates, as union scale may differ from the BLS median figures shown here.

To push your pay toward the 75th percentile and above, the levers are straightforward: build your hours on commercial and industrial sites rather than residential, pursue certifications in specialized work, and don't leave foreman or lead opportunities on the table. Supervisory responsibility comes with a pay bump and makes you harder to lay off when work slows down. Contractors who can plan a job, manage a small crew, and keep a project on schedule are worth more than a mason who can only lay brick — even if that mason is fast.

All data on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2025 release. Figures reflect wages for Indiana and are updated as new BLS data becomes available on TradesPays.