Bricklayer salary overview
Bricklayers and stonemasons lay bricks, pre‑cut stones and other building blocks in mortar to construct and repair walls, partitions, arches and other structures. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there were about 25,800 employed in the occupation as of 2025, with only 1% female and a median age of 39. Most work full‑time (84%), averaging 42 hours per week.
Median earnings versus the national average
The most authoritative figure for a bricklayer salary comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), which gives a median full‑time weekly earnings of $2,317. That is about $120,484 a year before tax. This is a median – half earn more, half earn less – not an average.
By comparison, the national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. So the typical bricklayer earns about $233 a week more than the average full‑time worker across all occupations.
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How bricklayer pay stacks up by state
The national full‑time average varies by state. For example, the ACT has the highest average at about $119,090 a year, while Tasmania is lowest at about $96,008. A bricklayer earning the national median of $120,484 would be above the average in every state except possibly the ACT, where it is roughly on par. The table below shows the state full‑time averages from the ABS (May 2026):
| State | Full‑time average weekly earnings | Annualised (×52) |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | $2,108.80 | $109,658 |
| Victoria | $2,041.10 | $106,137 |
| Queensland | $2,039.70 | $106,064 |
| South Australia | $1,970.20 | $102,450 |
| Western Australia | $2,227.40 | $115,825 |
| Tasmania | $1,846.30 | $96,008 |
| Northern Territory | $1,984.10 | $103,173 |
| ACT | $2,290.20 | $119,090 |
States and territories has more detail on regional differences.
Award minimum rates for bricklayers
Bricklayers are covered by the Building and Construction General On‑site Award 2020 (MA000020). The award sets minimum weekly rates for different skill levels. From 1 July 2026, the rates are:
- Level 1a: $1,013.50 per week ($26.67 per hour)
- Level 1b: $1,033.50
- Level 1c: $1,047.30
- Level 1d: $1,066.00
- Level 2: $1,087.50
- Level 3: $1,119.10
- Level 4: $1,154.40
- Level 5: $1,189.60
- Level 6: $1,221.30
- Level 7: $1,256.30
- Level 8: $1,286.70
- Level 9: $1,309.50
Bricklayers also receive a weekly tool allowance of $29.26. These are the legal minimums; most experienced bricklayers earn well above, as the median of $2,317 shows.
How the figures are set
The national full‑time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, published twice a year (May and November). The median earnings for occupations come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, most recently August 2025. The award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission after annual wage reviews. How the figures are set explains the methodology.
What about part‑time and casual bricklayers?
The median figure of $2,317 is for full‑time employees only. About 16% of bricklayers work part‑time. The all‑employees median (including part‑time) is not separately published for this occupation, but across all occupations the all‑employees median is about $74,100 a year. Bricklayers who work fewer hours will naturally earn less.
[Job medians](/occupations] lists median earnings for hundreds of other occupations.
Take‑home pay
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