How much do brickmasons make in Washington in 2026?

Brickmasons in Washington earn a median wage of $83,190 per year, which works out to roughly $40.00 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That puts Washington brickmasons well above the national median for the trade. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, published May 2025.

The pay spread across the state is significant. Workers at the 25th percentile — those with less experience or working in slower markets — bring in about $73,090 a year, or roughly $35.14 an hour. Get to the 75th percentile and the number jumps to $102,140 annually, which is about $49.11 an hour. That's a $29,050 gap between the lower quarter and the upper quarter of earners. In a trade where skill accumulates over years on the job, that spread makes sense: a mason five years in lays differently than one at fifteen years.

Washington's construction activity is concentrated in the Puget Sound corridor — Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, and the surrounding suburbs. Brickmasons working on commercial projects, mixed-use developments, and institutional buildings in that corridor tend to see higher rates than those doing residential work in Eastern Washington or smaller coastal markets. The BLS OEWS figures represent a statewide average, so they smooth over those geographic differences. If you're bidding work or negotiating wages in King County, expect numbers toward or above the 75th percentile. If you're in the Spokane or Yakima area, the going rate may land closer to the median or below it.

Overtime and seasonality matter in this trade. Washington gets wet winters, and exterior masonry slows considerably from November through February in many parts of the state. Workers who track toward the upper percentiles often do so partly by banking overtime hours during the dry-season push from spring through early fall. A mason putting in 50-hour weeks for 20 weeks adds roughly $4,000–$6,000 above base salary at median rates, depending on their straight-time hourly and any premium pay arrangements.

Experience is the clearest lever on pay. Entry-level brickmasons — including those still in or recently out of an apprenticeship program — typically land in the $35–$38 per hour range, consistent with the 25th percentile. Journeyworkers with five to ten years of verified experience, especially those who can read structural drawings and work with thin-brick veneers, ornamental restoration, or refractory brick, routinely command $43–$49 per hour, pushing toward the 75th percentile. Masons who move into foreman or lead roles add supervisory pay on top of their craft rate.

Specialization is another path to higher earnings. Restoration masonry — tuckpointing historic structures, matching historic mortar blends, repairing terra cotta — commands a premium in a state with a lot of older brick buildings in Seattle and Tacoma. Refractory work (industrial kilns, fireplaces, pizza ovens) is a smaller niche but one where skilled workers can negotiate rates well above the median.

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

The BLS OEWS figures capture base wages reported by employers. They do not include the value of benefits like health insurance, pension contributions, or paid time out. In trades where benefit packages are substantial, total compensation can run meaningfully higher than the wage numbers suggest. When comparing offers, factor in the full package, not just the hourly rate.

Washington does not require a statewide license specifically for brickmasons, but some jurisdictions have local requirements for certain types of work. Apprenticeship completion, while not mandatory, is the clearest credential for proving journey-level competence and is often required to access the higher-paying commercial job sites.

To summarize the pay picture: the floor for a working brickmason in Washington is around $35.14 an hour ($73,090/yr). The middle is $40.00 an hour ($83,190/yr). The ceiling for experienced, specialized workers in high-demand markets is $49.11 an hour ($102,140/yr) and above. Where you land depends on your years in the trade, the type of work you pursue, and where in the state you work.