Bricklayer
Career outlook for bricklayer
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£17,000
£17,000
Experienced
£40,000
£40,000
Currently employed in Scotland
4,100
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You’d build and repair walls, chimneys, tunnel linings and archways to make people’s homes and other buildings safe,and protected from the weather.
You might also refurbish brickwork and masonry to restore old buildings.
It’s likely that you’d work on extensions to people’s homes to give them more room without moving house.
You would:
- Read the engineers’ or architects’ plan
- Measure the work area
- Set out the first rows of bricks (courses) and the damp course
- Mix mortar by hand or with a mechanical mixer
- Lay the bricks on top of each other and apply the mortar with a trowel
- Shape and trim bricks using hammers, chisels and power tools
- Check that courses are straight and level using water or laser spirit levels and plumb lines.
On larger jobs, your team - or gang - would work on a particular section of a building alongside other bricklaying gangs. You’d need to be aware of safety issues, particularly when working at heights and carrying loads.
You might also do ornamental brickwork or decorative stonework to add interest to walls and buildings and make them look good. Or you might specialise in stonemasonry work.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
39%
Part-time
0%
Self employed
61%
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- Cooperating
- Verbal communication
- Problem solving
- Observation
- Attention to detail
- Concentrating
- Managing resources
- Time management
- Making decisions
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Qualifications
You must complete a Modern Apprenticeship with an employer and work towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Trowel Occupations (SVQ level 3).
Useful subjects
- Maths
- English
- Technologies subjects
You will also need
You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on a site. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.
You usually need to take an aptitude test.
Helpful to have
Qualifications that show practical skills and experience such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF level 4/5).
Another option to help develop skills for an apprenticeship is to take a college course in Bricklaying. This would teach you some of the skills needed for the job.
College options could include National Progression Award (NPA) Brickwork, City & Guilds level 1 Brickwork or Pre-Apprentice courses.