How Much Do Bricklayers Get Paid in the UK? Full Salary Guide

How much do bricklayers get paid in the UK? Bricklayer pay can change with experience, skills and the type of work. Bricklayers can earn £25,000 to £45,000 a year, while the median salary sits at £30,925. Apprentices usually earn less, while skilled and self-employed bricklayers can earn more. 

Some bricklayers use bricklaying price work and charge by the day or per brick. Rates can range from £650 to £1,790 per 1,000 bricks. Location, project type and the type of bricks can also affect pay. Self-employed bricklayers also need to cover their own work costs. 

This guide explains bricklayer wages, day rates, per-brick pay and ways to increase your income.

How Much Do Bricklayers Get Paid in the UK?

Bricklayers in the UK can earn £25,000 to £45,000 a year. Experience, location and the type of work can change these earnings. The median salary is £30,925, which gives a useful pay benchmark. This helps explain the average wage bricklayer UK workers can expect. The average wage for a bricklayer UK can also differ between jobs and areas. 

Salary figures vary because different sources use different workers and pay data. Self-employed bricklayers can earn higher amounts through private work and price work. However, business turnover is not the same as salary. Self-employed workers also cover tools, fuel, insurance and other costs.

What is the Average Bricklayer Wage?

The average bricklayer wage gives you a simple idea of typical pay. The median salary is £30,925 a year, while common salaries range from £25,000 to £45,000. Pay can change based on experience, job type and how you work.

• Median pay: £30,925 a year.
• Typical range: £25,000 to £45,000 a year.
• Experienced workers: Some earn around £40,102 a year.
• New workers: Starters usually earn less than experienced bricklayers.
• Job type: Different projects can offer different pay.
• Self-employed work: Earnings can look higher, but workers have business costs.

How Much Do Bricklayers Get Paid as an Apprentice?

Apprentice bricklayers often earn less while learning the trade. Research finds an older figure shows £11,063 a year or £6.30 an hour and £50.40 a day. These figures show past bricklayer pay UK, not today’s legal minimum. From April 2026, the apprentice minimum rate is £8 an hour. Apprentices aged 19 or over can get their age-based rate after the first year.

Current Level 2 bricklayer apprenticeships often offer around £16,000 or more a year. Pay can change with age, training year and employer. Apprentices earn money while gaining real work skills. Their pay often grows as they learn more and gain experience.

How Does Bricklayer Pay Rise With Experience?

Bricklaying wages UK can grow as workers gain skills and experience. Apprentices can earn around £11,063 a year. Newly qualified bricklayers can earn around £31,942, while employed workers can earn around £40,102. 

Other figures show similar pay, with £11,000, £32,000 and £40,000. Experienced bricklayers can earn more by taking on harder work. Good skills can also lead to better pay. Specialist brickwork can offer higher rates. More duties can also increase earnings.

What is the Day Rate for a Bricklayer?

The day rate for a bricklayer depends on skills and experience. An apprentice can earn around £50.40 a day. A newly qualified bricklayer can earn about £145.52. An employed bricklayer can earn around £154.24. A sole trader can charge about £304, while a Ltd company owner can charge around £320.

Self-employed rates look higher because workers pay their own costs. These costs include tools, fuel, insurance and travel. A day rate is not the same as take-home pay. Bricklayers also need regular work to keep earning. The length of each job can affect their income too. This means bricklaying pay rates can change from one job to another.

Do Bricklayers Get Paid by the Brick?

Yes, some bricklayers use bricklaying price work and charge based on the number of bricks laid. Many workers quote a price for 1,000 bricks rather than each brick. Rates can range from £650 to £1,790 per 1,000 bricks. This works out to about £0.65 to £1.79 per brick. The price covers the laying work, not the worker’s final pay.

• Price work: Bricklayers charge for the amount of work completed.
• 1,000 bricks: Many jobs use this as the unit of measure.
• Per brick: Rates work out at about £0.65 to £1.79.
• Materials: Brick and material costs can sit outside the labour price.
• Job conditions: Hard or slow jobs can cost more.
• Take-home pay: The full price does not equal personal income.

How Much Money Do Bricklayers Make Per Brick?

Bricklayers can charge around £0.65 to £1.79 per brick. Common bricks cost around £650 to £1,500 per 1,000 bricks, while engineering bricks cost £650 to £1,790 per 1,000 bricks. Clay facing bricks cost more, from £2,260 to £5,000 per 1,000 bricks.

The brick type can change the price for the work. Easy site access can help workers lay more bricks each day. So, how much money do bricklayers make per brick UK depends on the brick type, job and location. These rates also don’t reflect yearly wages or take-home pay.

How Many Bricks Can a Bricklayer Lay Daily?

A skilled bricklayer can lay around 500 bricks per day in good conditions. Easy site access can help workers reach this level. Hard sites, small spaces and complex designs can slow the work down. Daily output can affect earnings when workers use bricklaying price work. 

Laying more bricks can increase daily pay, but speed alone does not always mean better income. Bricklayers also need to work carefully and keep their work accurate. They must follow building regulations and job standards. Poor work can lead to repairs and extra costs. Good quality work helps protect bricklayer pay and supports steady earnings.

Do Self-Employed Bricklayers Earn More?

Self-employed bricklayers can earn more than employed workers. A sole trader can earn around £56,052 a year, while a Ltd company owner can earn around £59,002. These figures come before business costs and tax.

Self-employed bricklayers also pay for tools, fuel, vehicles and insurance. After business costs, take-home pay can fall to around £37,589 for sole traders. Ltd company owners can take home around £38,830. So, bricklayer pay UK can change with costs and business type.

Which UK Areas Pay Bricklayers the Most?

Bricklayer pay can vary across different parts of the UK. London and South East England often offer stronger pay due to high building demand. These areas have many new homes, repairs and large construction projects. Strong demand can push bricklaying rates higher than in some other areas.

• London: High construction demand can lead to higher bricklayer rates.
• South East England: New housing projects create strong demand for bricklayers.
• Major cities: Large building projects can offer more work and better rates.
• Areas with new homes: More house building can increase demand for bricklayers.
• Busy construction areas: More projects can create more job opportunities and work.

What Affects Bricklayer Pay?

Bricklayer pay can change from one job to another. A simple new build can have different rates from detailed restoration work. Extensions and commercial projects can also offer different pay. The brick type, job difficulty and customer needs all matter.

Good site access can help bricklayers work faster. Specialist skills can help them take on better-paid jobs. Work quality also helps build trust and bring more work. Contract type can change bricklaying pay rates too. Self-employed workers also cover their own business costs. So, how much does a bricklayer earn depends on the job, skills and costs.

What Affects Bricklayer Pay?

Bricklayer pay can change from one job to another. A simple new build can pay differently from detailed restoration work. Extensions and commercial projects can also offer different rates. The brick type, job difficulty and customer needs all affect pay.

Good site access helps bricklayers work faster. Specialist skills can open the door to more complex jobs. Contract type can also change bricklaying pay rates. Self-employed workers need to cover their own business costs. Seasonal demand can also affect the amount of work available.

Is Bricklaying a Good-Paying Career?

Yes, bricklaying can be a good-paying career. Bricklayers can earn £25,000–£45,000 a year, while the median pay is £30,925. This gives a useful guide to the average pay for bricklayer jobs. Pay can grow as workers gain more skills and experience. Self-employed bricklayers can also earn more from their own work.

Bricklaying is active work, so you spend much of the day moving and lifting. You often work outside and face cold, rain or hot weather. Building sites can also be noisy and dusty. Demand for bricklayers is growing as more homes and buildings need work.

Final Thoughts

A career in bricklaying can offer steady work and good earning potential. How much do bricklayers get paid depends on experience, skills, job type and work arrangements. Bricklayers can earn £25,000 to £45,000 a year, while self-employed workers can earn more from private work. 

The job also involves physical tasks and outdoor work in different weather. With more skills and experience, you can take on better-paid work. Bricklaying can suit people who enjoy practical work and want a hands-on career.

Want to build your bricklaying skills and start your career? Join our Bricklaying Training Course and build your skills in this field.

FAQs

1. Can a bricklayer lay 1,000 bricks a day?

• Most bricklayers cannot lay 1,000 bricks every day. Around 500 bricks a day is a good target in good working conditions.

2. How much should I pay a bricklayer per day?

• A bricklayer’s day rate can vary with skills and experience. Rates can range from around £145 to £320 a day.

3. Is bricklaying a dead-end job?

• No, bricklaying can offer good career growth. You can gain skills, take on bigger jobs or become self-employed.

4. Do I need GCSEs to be a bricklayer?

• You do not always need GCSEs to start bricklaying. Some training routes ask for GCSEs in English and maths.

5. Is 35 too old to become a bricklayer?

• No, 35 is not too old to become a bricklayer. You can learn the trade through training and gain skills through practical work.

6. How hard is bricklaying?

• Bricklaying is physical and can be tiring. You need strength, good hand skills and the ability to work outdoors.