Bricklayer
Build and repair walls and chimneys to make people's homes and other buildings safe and protected from the weather.
Also known as: builder, brickie
About the job
What it's 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.
Hours
You'll normally work Monday to Friday.
Sometimes, you may need to do overtime at weekends and evenings.
Environment
You'll spend a lot of your time outside in most weather conditions.
The work can be physically hard.
Your job may involve working at heights on scaffolding, and you'll be expected to use protective equipment, such as safety helmets and boots.
Travel
You'll travel from site to site.
Some jobs may involve overnight stays away from home.
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Other careers that you might like
Stonemason
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- power tool operation
- masonry
- public liability
- chisels
- hammers
- stonemasonry
- retaining wall
- lasers
- mortars
- superstructure
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- making decisions
- time management
- managing resources
- concentrating
- attention to detail
- observation
- problem solving
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Practical Craft Skills
Skills for Work: Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering
You must complete a Modern Apprenticeship with an employer and work towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Trowel Occupations (SVQ level 3).
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.
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.
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