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Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

Help brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, or tile and marble setters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $47,550 Median per year · $22.86/hr Most earn $36,230–$70,080

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Clean installation surfaces, equipment, tools, work sites, or storage areas, using water, chemical solutions, oxygen lances, or polishing machines.
  • Transport materials, tools, or machines to installation sites, manually or using conveyance equipment.
  • Arrange or store materials, machines, tools, or equipment.
  • Erect scaffolding or other installation structures.
  • Remove damaged tile, brick, or mortar, and clean or prepare surfaces, using pliers, hammers, chisels, drills, wire brushes, or metal wire anchors.
  • Remove excess grout or residue from tile or brick joints, using sponges or trowels.

Job outlook

United States
12% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Masonry contractors67.8%
  • Nonresidential building construction2.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. You can usually start right after high school, with little or no prior experience, and learn the work on the job.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school gives you the basic education most employers ask for, and shop, math, and safety classes are useful background.

  2. Masonry Helper

    Up to 1 month of training

    You start by supplying materials, holding tools, mixing mortar, and keeping the work area clean while experienced masons show you the trade.

Where it can lead

  1. Tile and Stone Setter

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    You move from helping to installing tile or stone yourself, which means learning layout, cutting, and setting materials with more independence.

  2. Brickmason and Blockmason

    1 to 2 years of experience first

    You move into laying brick and block, building walls and structures on your own, which takes more skill with measuring, leveling, and reading plans.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, drafting, or woodworking classesThese classes teach you to use hand and power tools and read simple plans, which are useful on any job site.
  • Take math classes, especially geometryMeasuring, angles, and area come up constantly in masonry and tile work.
  • Get a summer or after-school job on a job site or at a hardware storeAny work that involves lifting, carrying materials, or helping tradespeople shows employers you are reliable and willing to work hard.
  • Join a career or technical student organizationMany schools have trade-focused clubs where you can meet local tradespeople and learn about apprenticeships.
  • Learn basic workplace safetyKnowing how to use protective gear and handle heavy materials safely will help you on any construction job.

In college

  • Take courses in construction technology or building tradesClasses on construction methods and materials give you a head start on the terms and practices used on masonry job sites.
  • Work a part-time job on a construction crew or with a landscaping companyHands-on work with materials and tools builds the experience employers look for in helpers.
  • Look into a masonry or tile apprenticeshipApprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom learning and are a common way to move from helper to skilled mason.
  • Earn a basic safety certificationCertifications such as construction site safety training show employers you take job site safety seriously.
  • Volunteer on a home repair or building projectHelping with community building projects gives you practical experience and a chance to meet people in the trades.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local masonry or tile contractor whether they hire helpers and whether they will train you on the job. Many helpers learn the trade this way.
  • Show up on time, keep your work area clean, and ask questions. Those habits are often what lead to being trusted with more skilled tasks.
  • Look into a construction or building trades apprenticeship once you are working. Apprenticeships let you learn the trade while getting paid.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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