Masonry major

Masonry: courses, careers, and where to study

Masonry programs train you to lay and set brick, concrete block, and stone with mortar, reading blueprints and building walls, foundations, and veneers to code.

A masonry program teaches you to build and finish structures from units bonded with mortar: clay brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), structural and decorative stone, glass block, and hard tile. You learn to mix and spread mortar to the right consistency, butter and lay units in common bonds, strike and tool joints, and keep work plumb, level, and to the line using a mason's trowel, level, line blocks, jointer, and brick hammer or chisel. Coursework covers technical math for estimating brick and block counts, blueprint reading, foundations and footings, reinforced and grouted block, flashing and weep holes for moisture control, and applicable building codes. Where Carpentry frames and finishes wood and an Electrician runs wiring to electrical code, this trade is about masonry units, mortar, and the load-bearing and veneer walls they form.

Most masons enter through a registered apprenticeship or a community college certificate, then build skill on the job laying brick, block, and stone under experienced workers. Apprenticeships through groups such as the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers or contractor programs combine paid fieldwork with classroom hours, and OSHA construction safety training (often the OSHA 10 or 30) is commonly expected on jobsites. Some workers add NCCER credentials or scaffold and silica-awareness training. Unlike Construction Management, which plans and oversees projects from an office, masonry is physical field work outdoors in varied weather. Pay and demand vary by employer, region, union status, and experience, and seasonal slowdowns are common in colder climates. A program is preparation and a starting point, not a guarantee of a specific job or wage.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of brickmasons and blockmasons, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $60,800 and projects employment to grow about 3.2% from 2024 to 2034; a high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Masonry maps to CIP 46.0101, Mason/Masonry, within the CONSTRUCTION TRADES family. The official definition:

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the laying and/or setting of exterior brick, concrete block, hard tile, marble and related materials, using trowels, levels, hammers, chisels, and other hand tools. Includes instruction in technical mathematics, blueprint reading, structural masonry, decorative masonry, foundations, reinforcement, mortar preparation, cutting and finishing, and applicable codes and standards.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Mixing, tempering, and spreading mortar and grout to proper consistency for different units and weather
  • Laying brick and concrete block in running, common, and stack bonds, kept plumb and level to the line
  • Using the mason's trowel, level, jointer, brick hammer, chisel, line blocks, and wet saw for cutting
  • Building footings, foundations, and reinforced grouted block walls with rebar and bond beams
  • Setting stone, marble, and hard tile, including veneer and decorative masonry patterns
  • Estimating brick, block, and mortar quantities using technical math and blueprint takeoffs
  • Installing flashing, weep holes, and control joints to manage moisture and movement in walls
  • Striking and tooling mortar joints, then cleaning and pointing finished masonry surfaces
  • Jobsite safety including scaffold use, silica dust control, and OSHA construction practices

Typical careers

Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 brickmasons and blockmasons median $60,800).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Masonry. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Masonry major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Masonry program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Masonry department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Apprenticeship and certification expectations vary by state and employer; verify program standing and whether it aligns with registered apprenticeship sponsors such as the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, NCCER credentials, or local contractor programs. Confirm any OSHA construction safety training and state or local code requirements directly with the school and your area's building authority.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Masonrycareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Masonry program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Masonry programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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Related majors

Put this major in context

The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin pages help you read it well and weigh a Masonry degree against its cost.

Explore Construction & Extraction careers

Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.

Why a median wage is not a starting salary

How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.

Does a pricier college pay off?

How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.