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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
For Mason/Bricklayers weighing a relocation, this page is the starting point. The national median salary for Mason/Bricklayers in 2026 is $65,178, with entry-level positions averaging $46,928 and senior roles reaching $92,552. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $118,720, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Mason/Bricklayer sits at the intersection of Construction and Construction & Trades. Most professionals enter with Apprenticeship, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is job-site. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$72,240 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Mason/Bricklayer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $118,720 — $72,240 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($46,480). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Mason/Bricklayers in 2026: $46,928 at entry (P10), $65,178 at midpoint, and $92,552 at the senior end (P90). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The $45,624 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $15,189 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $110,880, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $46,853. The $64,027 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Mason/Bricklayer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $118,720 — $72,240 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($46,480). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Mason/Bricklayer is $46,928, while senior-level (P90) earners average $92,552. That $45,624 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $46,928 | $65,178 | $92,552 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £25,794 | £35,825 | £50,871 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$40,766 | CA$56,619 | CA$80,399 |
| Australia | 13 | A$50,550 | A$70,208 | A$99,695 |
| Sweden | 24 | 279,195 kr | 387,771 kr | 550,634 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $56,640 | $78,666 | $111,706 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $54,735 | $76,020 | $107,949 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $54,432 | $75,600 | $107,352 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $50,400 | $70,000 | $99,400 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $49,795 | $69,160 | $98,207 |
| Washington | 8 | $48,838 | $67,830 | $96,319 |
| New York | 5 | $45,965 | $63,840 | $90,653 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $45,965 | $63,840 | $90,653 |
| Florida | 22 | $45,617 | $63,356 | $89,966 |
| Colorado | 11 | $44,828 | $62,262 | $88,412 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $44,755 | $62,160 | $88,267 |
| Nevada | 5 | $44,675 | $62,048 | $88,108 |
| Arizona | 12 | $44,453 | $61,740 | $87,671 |
| Oregon | 5 | $44,352 | $61,600 | $87,472 |
| Idaho | 3 | $44,218 | $61,413 | $87,207 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $43,868 | $60,928 | $86,518 |
| Utah | 4 | $43,747 | $60,760 | $86,279 |
| Virginia | 7 | $43,027 | $59,760 | $84,859 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $42,470 | $58,987 | $83,761 |
| Alaska | 1 | $42,336 | $58,800 | $83,496 |
| Illinois | 5 | $41,852 | $58,128 | $82,542 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $40,813 | $56,684 | $80,492 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $40,320 | $56,000 | $79,520 |
| Montana | 1 | $40,320 | $56,000 | $79,520 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $40,186 | $55,813 | $79,255 |
| Texas | 40 | $39,987 | $55,538 | $78,864 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $39,917 | $55,440 | $78,725 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $39,715 | $55,160 | $78,327 |
| Georgia | 6 | $39,581 | $54,973 | $78,062 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $39,514 | $54,880 | $77,930 |
| Kansas | 4 | $39,312 | $54,600 | $77,532 |
| Michigan | 6 | $39,178 | $54,413 | $77,267 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $38,708 | $53,760 | $76,340 |
| Maryland | 1 | $38,707 | $53,760 | $76,339 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $38,304 | $53,200 | $75,544 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $38,304 | $53,200 | $75,544 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $37,296 | $51,800 | $73,556 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $37,094 | $51,520 | $73,158 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $36,590 | $50,820 | $72,164 |
| Missouri | 4 | $36,591 | $50,820 | $72,165 |
| Alabama | 5 | $36,449 | $50,624 | $71,886 |
| Indiana | 3 | $35,885 | $49,840 | $70,773 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $35,885 | $49,840 | $70,773 |
| Iowa | 2 | $35,482 | $49,280 | $69,978 |
| Ohio | 6 | $35,415 | $49,187 | $69,845 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $33,869 | $47,040 | $66,797 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Mason/Bricklayer median of $78,666 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($76,020) and Hawaii ($75,600). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $47,040 and $49,280. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($118,720 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $56,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $118,720 | 212 | $56,000 | $72,313 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $110,880 | 198 | $56,000 | $67,997 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $103,040 | 184 | $56,000 | $63,681 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $101,360 | 181 | $56,000 | $62,756 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $99,680 | 178 | $56,000 | $61,814 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $99,120 | 177 | $56,000 | $61,495 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $99,120 | 177 | $56,000 | $61,495 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $96,880 | 173 | $56,000 | $60,217 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $96,880 | 173 | $56,000 | $60,217 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $94,640 | 169 | $56,000 | $58,939 |
Career economics for Mason/Bricklayers: entry level averages $46,928, mid-career hits $65,178, and experienced professionals reach $92,552. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Apprenticeship, and the work is job-site. The outlook: growing. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The weighted national median salary for Mason/Bricklayers is $65,178 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $46,928, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $92,552.
The highest-paying city for Mason/Bricklayers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $118,720. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($118,720), Santa Clara ($110,880), Irvine ($103,040). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Mason/Bricklayer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $46,480. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Mason/Bricklayers (10th percentile) average $46,928 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $85,478. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Mason/Bricklayers average $92,552 nationally — $45,624 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Mason/Bricklayers can earn up to $168,582.
The top-paying states for Mason/Bricklayers are California ($78,666 median), Massachusetts ($76,020 median), Hawaii ($75,600 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Mason/Bricklayer involves Apprenticeship. The field is in the Construction & Trades sector (Construction), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically job-site.
With a national median of $65,178 and representation across 288 metro areas, Mason/Bricklayer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $45,624 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.