by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Mason/Masonry explores Mason/masonry. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills In The Laying And/or Setting Of Exterior Brick, Concrete Block, Hard Tile, Marble And Related Materials, Using Trowels, Levels, Hammers, Chisels, And Other Hand Tools. Includes Instruction In Technical Mathematics, Blueprint Reading, Structural Masonry, Decorative Masonry, Foundations, Reinforcement, Mortar Preparation, Cutting And Finishing, And Applicable Codes And Standards. Examples: [Bricklayer], [Brick And Stone Mason]. Continue reading for the key facts every mason/masonry major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering mason/masonry programs.
Across the country, mason/masonry is a widely-pursued major, with 378 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Mason/Masonry Schools ranking analyzes these 33 schools to determine the best overall colleges for mason/masonry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of mason/masonry programs later in this article.
Coursework for Mason/Masonry emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations mason/masonry graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a mason/masonry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a mason/masonry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several mason/masonry degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 87 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 42 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 248 |
People currently working in careers related to mason/masonry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 26.6% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in mason/masonry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying mason/masonry opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to mason/masonry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to mason/masonry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Tile and Stone Setters | 656,657 | 3.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | 424,326 | -4.6% |
| Stonemasons | 354,910 | -1.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of mason/masonry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,525 |
| 4 years | $17,178 |
| 5 years | $20,337 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for mason/masonry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers mason/masonry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Stonemasons | $64,233 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $50,255 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $46,953 |
With 33 different mason/masonry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased mason/masonry school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
