Bricklayers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time bricklayers in the UK earned a median £33,030 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 15% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That puts it 225th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
ASHE counts roughly 10,000 employee jobs, 90% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 15.7%, from £28,560, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 49,300 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £12.21 |
| 20th percentile | £26,370* | £491.30 | £13.17 | £22,671* | £484.30* | £12.54 |
| 25th percentile | £28,106 | £521.50 | £13.98 | £26,412* | £489.90 | £13.46 |
| 30th percentile | £29,083 | £576.50 | £14.58 | £28,170* | £518.90 | £13.99 |
| 40th percentile | £30,391 | £635.80 | £15.96 | £29,949 | £605.60 | £15.54 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £33,030 | £644.80 | £16.75 | £32,480 | £640.00 | £16.64 |
| 60th percentile | £34,425 | £662.80 | £17.27 | £34,256 | £651.80 | £17.22 |
| 70th percentile | £37,737* | £724.80 | £18.34 | £37,007* | £699.20 | £17.96 |
| 75th percentile | – | £744.40* | £19.12* | – | £743.60* | £18.78 |
| Mean | £33,379 | £662.50 | £16.79 | £32,313 | £633.10 | £16.67 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £28,560 | £582.70 | £14.41 | £28,307 | £563.10 | 10* |
| 2022 revised | £29,212* | £589.80 | £14.78 | £29,111* | £588.60* | 10* |
| 2023 revised | £30,925* | £592.20 | £14.67* | £29,829* | £580.20* | 8* |
| 2024 revised | £30,523* | £609.60 | £15.50 | £30,211* | £600.60 | 9* |
| 2025 provisional | £33,030 | £644.80 | £16.75 | £32,480 | £640.00 | 10* |
Bricklayers by region
UK: 49,300 (± 8,600), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What bricklayers do
Bricklayers erect and repair brick, pre-cut stone and concrete block structures such as walls, paving, chimney stacks and tunnel lining using traditional and modern methods. (ONS SOC 2020, 5313)
Also covers: bricklayer, block setter, chimney builder, floor stone Layer, kiln repairer, archman (brick), block layer, boiler fixer, box builder, brick archer, brick layer, brick pointer, bricklaying contractor, chimney repairer, contractor (bricklaying), cupola builder, cupola fettler and cupola patcher (47 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines drawings, photographs and specifications to determine job requirements
- Measures construction site and lays out the first lines of bricks to mark position of walls
- Mixes and spreads mortar on foundations and bricks
- Places, levels and aligns bricks in mortar bed and walls
- Uses hand and power tools to shape and trim bricks
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though GCSEs/S grades are advantageous. Entry is typically through an approved apprenticeship programme or college course in conjunction with on-the-job training, leading to a NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 qualification, or through building up work experience supplemented with short courses.
Related
Construction and building trades (median £34,643) · Stonemasons and related trades · Roofers, roof tilers and slaters · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026