How to Become a Bricklayer in 2026: Career Guide, Salary & Apprenticeships

Thinking about a bricklaying career and wondering where to start? The most direct route runs through a registered union apprenticeship, where you earn a paycheck from your first week while learning the craft from experienced instructors. No college debt stands between you and a skilled trade in high-demand.

The demand is real, and the data backs it up. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 20,700 openings for masonry workers every year through 2034, driven largely by retirements across the trade.

At ULA Network, we connect future craftworkers with the union programs that fill those openings, and we proudly feature BAC Local 1 NY as the premier path into the masonry trade in New York. This guide covers the steps, pay, and apprenticeship details you need.

What Does a Union Bricklayer Actually Do?

Bricklayers build and restore the structures that define our cities. BAC Local 1 members work across several allied crafts, so your career can grow in more than one direction. That work includes:

• Bricklaying and blockwork on new construction projects.
• Stone setting on landmark and high-end architectural work.
• Pointing, caulking, and cleaning, known in the trade as PCC restoration work.
• Plastering on both interior and exterior surfaces.

How to Become a Bricklayer in 2026: Five Steps That Work

Below is the step-by-step path recommended by our featured union. Each step builds on the one before it.

1. Meet the basic requirements. You need a high school diploma or GED, and you must handle physical work with confidence.
2. Submit your application to BAC Local 1. The union posts its application and current recruitment dates on its apprenticeship program page, and New York State lists open building-trade recruitments on the DOL announcements page.
3. Complete pre-job training. New apprentices learn tool handling, material basics, and jobsite conduct before they ever join a crew.
4. Work and learn as a paid apprentice. You split your time between active jobsites and the training center, with wages that increase at each stage.
5. Advance to journeyworker status. Full craft recognition brings top union pay, benefits, and lifelong career mobility.

Bricklayer Salary in 2026: What You Can Expect to Earn

Money matters, and this trade delivers. The national median wage for masonry workers sits at $56,600, and union rates in New York run well above the national figure. Compare the apprenticeship route with a four-year degree—the numbers speak for themselves.

Our 2026 guide to union trade jobs in NYC breaks down pay and benefits across the building trades if you want the wider picture.

Inside the BAC Local 1 Apprenticeship Program and Training Centers

BAC Local 1 runs its apprenticeship from Long Island City, where the 18,000-square-foot John B. Scola Training Center gives apprentices a full shop floor for hands-on practice. More than 5,000 members stand behind the program, and their work appears on landmarks across New York City and throughout Long Island.

It’s also important to understand the physical demands of the work. The union is upfront about what the job requires:

• Apprentices lift and move supplies and equipment weighing up to 100 pounds.
• Work takes place on ladders, scaffolds, and personnel lifts that may exceed 100 feet.
• Jobsites run through cold winter conditions and extreme summer heat, so conditioning matters.
• Hand tools and power tools become daily companions, and knowing how to handle them safely and effectively keeps you productive.

New York State supports this pathway as well. This resource on New York State apprenticeship opportunities shows how registered building trade programs open doors across the state.

Your Trowel Is Waiting: Take the First Step This Year

Now you know how to become a bricklayer, and the timing has never been better. BAC Local 1 is actively recruiting. The industry needs thousands of new craftworkers every year, and their union apprenticeship pays you to learn a craft that lasts a lifetime.

We built the ULA Network to guide union members, families, and future apprentices toward opportunities exactly like these. Explore our BAC Local 1 coverage, review the application details, and contact our team if you want help finding the right starting point. Your future in bricklaying is closer than you think.

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Bricklaying Career

When can I apply to the BAC Local 1 apprenticeship in 2026?

The current recruitment period opened in March 2026 and runs into early 2027. Application forms are available through the BAC Local 1 apprenticeship program page. Applying early gives you the best position in the intake process.

Which trades can I choose within the BAC Local 1 program?

The program covers four apprentice tracks: bricklayer, pointer/caulker/cleaner, stone mason, and plasterer. Each track follows its own training path at the John B. Scola Training Center. You can build a specialty that matches your strengths.

How physically demanding is a bricklaying apprenticeship?

The work is genuinely physical, and the union states this clearly to every applicant. Expect lifting up to 100 pounds, work at height, and outdoor conditions in every season. Good conditioning before you apply makes the transition easier.

Do bricklayer apprentices pay for their training?

No tuition bill arrives with a union apprenticeship. You earn wages on the jobsite while the program provides your classroom and shop instruction. Benefits build alongside your paycheck as you progress.

Is bricklaying still a smart career choice in 2026?

Yes, and the numbers support it. Thousands of openings appear every year as experienced masons retire, and skilled restoration work in New York continues year-round. A union card ensures wage protection and benefits that support a career built to last.