Skilled Wages

Brickmason salary in Iowa

Median $33.38 an hour for 290 brickmasons, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$33.38/hrMedian hourly wageIowa, May data
$69,440/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.31 – $37.9710th to 90th percentilehourly range
290Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Brickmason pay in Iowa: the full range

Wage percentiles, IowaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIowa: 10th $23.31 · 25th $25.77 · median $33.38 · 75th $36.59 · 90th $37.97Iowa$33.38$23.31$37.97United States: 10th $21.55 · 25th $24.57 · median $29.87 · 75th $38.15 · 90th $48.08United States$29.87
Hourly wage percentiles for brickmasons: Iowa vs United States, May 2025.

Iowa ranks 16th of 50 states for median brickmason pay, and 7th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $38.02). 290 brickmasons work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$23.31 – $25.77$48,480 – $53,610roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$25.77 – $36.59$53,610 – $76,120the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$36.59 – $37.97$76,120 – $78,980the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Brickmason pay by metro in Iowa

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrDes Moines: $36.45Des Moines$36.45Omaha: $30.71Omaha$30.71
Median hourly wage for brickmasons by metro area in Iowa, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Des Moines$25.13$36.45$39.75$38.51809% above
Omaha$21.85$30.71$33.42$34.902208% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Brickmason wages in Iowa over time

Iowa, 1999-2025IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$33.38Iowa$29.87United States
Median hourly wage for brickmasons, Iowa vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIowa $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.29$41.14$19.36730
2000$19.46$36.38$19.371,160
2001$19.94$36.25$20.00920
2002$19.90$35.61$20.111,000
2003$17.54$30.69$19.981,220
2004$17.84$30.40$20.071,370
2005$18.37$30.28$20.131,460
2006$20.02$31.97$20.661,180
2007$19.79$30.73$21.191,290
2008$20.85$31.18$21.941,200
2009$20.86$31.30$22.471,020
2010$21.62$31.92$22.56830
2011$21.81$31.22$22.50790
2012$21.62$30.32$22.33630
2013$21.54$29.77$22.41720
2014$20.90$28.42$22.91790
2015$20.47$27.80$23.05810
2016$20.68$27.74$23.68830
2017$23.93$31.43$23.93750
2018$26.48$33.95$24.49760
2019$28.33$35.68$25.53770
2020$29.85$37.13$26.48630
2021$24.98$29.68$28.53490
2022$25.75$28.33$28.37490
2023$25.31$26.74$28.67510
2024$30.52$31.32$29.23410
2025$33.38$33.38$29.87290

In today's dollars, the median brickmason wage in Iowa changed by +20.1% over the last ten years of data and by -6.4% since 2019.

Are there more brickmason jobs in Iowa?

0.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.5× the US share, 42nd of 49 states

BLS counted 290 brickmasons in Iowa in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 17%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for brickmasons in Iowa

+4.0%Projected growth in Iowa2024–2034, state agency
50Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
650Jobs in 2024670 projected for 2034
+1.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Iowa's labor market agency projects the number of brickmasons in the state to change by +4.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 650 to 670, with about 50 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +1.1% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 290 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for brickmasons in Iowa

On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay brickmasons at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 73 of the 97 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $50.75 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $35.63). 24 of the 97 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Appanoose County at $35.63). The market median for the state is $33.38.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IAAdair: $46.96 (union)Adams: $54.04 (union)Allamakee: $46.96 (union)Appanoose: $35.63 (survey)Audubon: $54.04 (union)Benton: $53.79 (union)Black Hawk: $50.75 (union)Boone: $56.56 (union)Bremer: $50.75 (union)Buchanan: $50.75 (union)Buena Vista: $46.96 (union)Butler: $50.75 (union)Calhoun: $46.96 (union)Carroll: $54.04 (union)Cass: $54.04 (union)Cedar: $35.63 (survey)Cerro Gordo: $46.96 (union)Cherokee: $46.96 (union)Chickasaw: $50.75 (union)Clarke: $54.04 (union)Clay: $46.96 (union)Clayton: $46.96 (union)Clinton: $35.63 (survey)Crawford: $46.96 (union)Dallas: $56.56 (union)Davis: $35.63 (survey)Decatur: $54.04 (union)Delaware: $46.96 (union)Des Moines: $35.63 (survey)Dickinson: $46.96 (union)Dubuque: $46.96 (union)Emmet: $46.96 (union)Fayette: $50.75 (union)Floyd: $46.96 (union)Franklin: $50.75 (union)Fremont: $54.04 (union)Greene: $54.04 (union)Grundy: $34.50 (survey)Guthrie: n/aHamilton: $46.96 (union)Hancock: $46.96 (union)Hardin: $50.75 (union)Harrison: $54.04 (union)Henry: $35.63 (survey)Howard: $46.96 (union)Humboldt: $46.96 (union)Ida: $46.96 (union)Iowa: $35.63 (survey)Jackson: $35.63 (survey)Jasper: $35.63 (survey)Jefferson: $35.63 (survey)Johnson: $34.50 (survey)Jones: $53.79 (union)Keokuk: $35.63 (survey)Kossuth: $46.96 (union)Lee: $35.63 (survey)Linn: $53.79 (union)Louisa: $35.63 (survey)Lucas: $54.04 (union)Lyon: $46.96 (union)Madison: n/aMahaska: $35.63 (survey)Marion: $35.63 (survey)Marshall: $35.63 (survey)Mills: $54.04 (union)Mitchell: $50.75 (union)Monona: $54.04 (union)Monroe: $35.63 (survey)Montgomery: $54.04 (union)Muscatine: $35.63 (survey)O'Brien: $46.96 (union)Osceola: $46.96 (union)Page: $54.04 (union)Palo Alto: $46.96 (union)Plymouth: $46.96 (union)Pocahontas: $46.96 (union)Polk: $56.56 (union)Pottawattamie: $54.04 (union)Poweshiek: $35.63 (survey)Ringgold: $54.04 (union)Sac: $46.96 (union)Scott: $59.85 (union)Shelby: $54.04 (union)Sioux: $46.96 (union)Story: $56.56 (union)Tama: $35.63 (survey)Taylor: $54.04 (union)Union: $46.96 (union)Van Buren: $35.63 (survey)Wapello: $35.63 (survey)Warren: $56.56 (union)Washington: $46.96 (union)Wayne: $54.04 (union)Webster: $46.96 (union)Winnebago: $46.96 (union)Winneshiek: $50.75 (union)Woodbury: $46.96 (union)Worth: $50.75 (union)Wright: $46.96 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$35.63$46.96$49.23$54.04n/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for brickmasons by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$20$30$40$50$60$70/hrScott (Iowa): market median $33.38, prevailing (union) $59.85, gap +$26.47Scott (Iowa)+$26.47Harrison (Omaha): market median $30.71, prevailing (union) $54.04, gap +$23.33Harrison (Omaha)+$23.33Dallas (Des Moines): market median $36.45, prevailing (union) $56.56, gap +$20.11Dallas (Des Moines)+$20.11
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for brickmasons, metro counties in Iowa.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ScottUnion BRIA0003-029 2025-05-01$35.53$24.32$59.85IA20260073
BooneUnion BRIA0003-001 2025-05-01$37.44$19.12$56.56IA20260034
DallasUnion BRIA0003-042 2025-05-01$37.44$19.12$56.56IA20260064
PolkUnion BRIA0003-042 2025-05-01$37.44$19.12$56.56IA20260071
StoryUnion BRIA0003-042 2025-05-01$37.44$19.12$56.56IA20260074
WarrenUnion BRIA0003-042 2025-05-01$37.44$19.12$56.56IA20260075
AdamsUnion BRIA0003-016 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260030
AudubonUnion BRIA0003-016 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260033
CarrollUnion BRIA0003-016 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260035
CassUnion BRIA0003-014 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260058
ClarkeUnion BRIA0003-014 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260058
DecaturUnion BRIA0003-015 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260060
FremontUnion BRIA0003-015 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260060
GreeneUnion BRIA0003-015 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260060
HarrisonUnion BRIA0003-016 2025-06-01$34.80$19.24$54.04IA20260067

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Iowa prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Iowa?

92.4kConstruction jobsIowa, 2026-09
+4.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202592kSep 2026
Construction employment in Iowa (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Brickmason pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Iowa

More on Iowa

Questions this page answers

How much do brickmasons make in Iowa?

The median brickmason in Iowa earned $33.38 an hour ($69,440 a year) in May 2025, 12% above the national median of $29.87. The middle half earn $25.77–$36.59; the top 10% earn more than $37.97.

Where does Iowa rank for brickmason pay?

Iowa ranks 16th of 50 states for brickmason pay, with a median of $33.38 an hour, and 7th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).

What is the union brickmason rate in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for brickmasons in 73 counties, with a typical package of $50.75 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many brickmasons work in Iowa?

BLS counted 290 brickmasons in Iowa in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.54; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is brickmason work growing in Iowa?

Iowa's labor market agency projects +4.0% growth for brickmasons between 2024 and 2034, from 650 to 670 jobs.

How many brickmason openings a year are there in Iowa?

Iowa projects about 50 openings a year for brickmasons over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 4,100 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa and metro areas, SOC 47-2021. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.