Bricklayer
A bricklayer builds and repairs walls, partitions, and structural elements in residential, commercial, and industrial construction by laying bricks, concrete blocks, or stone units in mortar. They work from architectural drawings and specifications, ensuring structures meet building codes, Australian Standards (AS), and Safe Work Australia requirements.
What this job is
A bricklayer builds and repairs walls, partitions, and structural elements in residential, commercial, and industrial construction by laying bricks, concrete blocks, or stone units in mortar. They work from architectural drawings and specifications, ensuring structures meet building codes, Australian Standards (AS), and Safe Work Australia requirements. The role involves site-based work across new construction, renovations, and maintenance projects.
Are employers advertising this role?
Falling, down 39.4% over 5 years
Counted across a group of similar roles. These are three-month rolling averages of online job advertisements, not filled positions.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Lay bricks, concrete blocks, or stone units in horizontal and vertical patterns using mortar, ensuring plumb, level, and alignment to specifications. Mix and prepare mortar to the correct consistency using cement, sand, lime, and water according to AS 3700 (Masonry structures) standards. Interpret and follow architectural drawings, building plans, and site specifications to determine brick layouts, bonding patterns, and structural requirements. Build and adjust temporary scaffolding, formwork, and support structures to access working heights safely in accordance with Safe Work Australia guidelines. Clean and point mortar joints between bricks using hand tools and grout bags to achieve weather-resistant finishes and specified joint profiles. Inspect materials for defects, damage, or non-compliance with AS 3700 standards before laying and report quality issues to site supervisors. Measure, mark, and cut bricks using hand tools (bolster chisel, brick hammer) or powered saws to fit around openings, corners, and special features. Apply damp-proof membranes, cavity trays, and flashing materials to prevent water ingress in accordance with AS 3700 and building code requirements.
Who does this now
About 16,900 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3)
Registration or licensing may be required.
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation had trouble finding suitable applicants in 2025. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation-ready qualification as:
Completing this qualification will provide the skills and knowledge to undertake this occupation. Further training and experience may be required to meet specific industry requirements including licensing and registration.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Requirements
The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.
The honest hard part
Your body takes a beating. Repetitive strain injuries in shoulders, wrists, and knees are common, and the work is physically demanding even when you're fit. You're also exposed to cement dust, which can cause respiratory issues over time. Weather stops work unpredictably, meaning income isn't always steady. The learning curve for precision work is real, and mistakes are expensive and visible.
Where the jobs are
Regional work exists but is patchy and project-dependent. Practically speaking, jobs follow population growth and building booms. Remote work isn't an option. Work availability follows economic cycles, so recessions hit hard.
Pay
Published for ANZSCO unit group 3311, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.
This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
Skills
- Active Listeningcore
- Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
- Attention to Detailcore
- Check straightness of brickcore
- Incident Reportingcore
- Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
- Problem Solvingcore
- Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
- Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
- Risk Identificationcore
- Team Collaborationcore
- Time Management and Prioritisationcore
- Verbal Communicationcore
- Workload Self-Managementcore
- Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
- Calculate needs for construction supplies
- Continuous Learning and Upskilling
- Goal Setting and Planning
- Process Improvement Identification
- Supplier Communication
- Written Communication
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
- ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
- ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.
Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.
What Bricklayer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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