Skilled Wages

Brickmason salary in Kentucky

Median $28.76 an hour for 780 brickmasons, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.76/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$59,820/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.62 – $37.4610th to 90th percentilehourly range
780Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Brickmason pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrKentucky: 10th $17.62 · 25th $21.66 · median $28.76 · 75th $33.08 · 90th $37.46Kentucky$28.76$17.62$37.46United States: 10th $21.55 · 25th $24.57 · median $29.87 · 75th $38.15 · 90th $48.08United States$29.87
Hourly wage percentiles for brickmasons: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 31st of 50 states for median brickmason pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.88). 780 brickmasons work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.62 – $21.66$36,650 – $45,060roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.66 – $33.08$45,060 – $68,800the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$33.08 – $37.46$68,800 – $77,920the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Brickmason pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrCincinnati: $34.02Cincinnati$34.02Louisville: $29.38Louisville$29.38Lexington: $28.63Lexington$28.63Huntington: $22.16Huntington$22.16
Median hourly wage for brickmasons by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$22.05$34.02$35.66$40.5344018% above
Louisville$18.56$29.38$31.56$37.482802% above
Lexington$18.29$28.63$30.82$37.0790about the same as
Huntington$17.61$22.16$25.07$33.585023% below

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

Brickmason wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.87United States$28.76Kentucky
Median hourly wage for brickmasons, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.38$35.52$19.361,350
2000$18.75$35.05$19.371,440
2001$19.02$34.58$20.001,310
2002$19.73$35.31$20.111,220
2003$17.24$30.16$19.981,470
2004$16.55$28.21$20.071,570
2005$18.25$30.08$20.131,230
2006$18.87$30.13$20.661,080
2007$18.41$28.59$21.191,320
2008$18.77$28.07$21.941,390
2009$19.52$29.29$22.471,420
2010$20.95$30.93$22.561,100
2011$21.33$30.53$22.501,230
2012$20.99$29.43$22.331,010
2013$19.55$27.02$22.41960
2014$21.90$29.78$22.91980
2015$20.92$28.42$23.05860
2016$22.45$30.11$23.68840
2017$22.34$29.34$23.93820
2018$20.29$26.01$24.49860
2019$18.91$23.81$25.53780
2020$21.87$27.20$26.48780
2021$28.34$33.67$28.53660
2022$23.90$26.29$28.37700
2023$28.65$30.27$28.67620
2024$29.89$30.68$29.23840
2025$28.76$28.76$29.87780

In today's dollars, the median brickmason wage in Kentucky changed by +1.2% over the last ten years of data and by +20.8% since 2019.

Are there more brickmason jobs in Kentucky?

0.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 17th of 49 states

BLS counted 780 brickmasons in Kentucky in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 9%. 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 Kentucky

+5.4%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
90Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,160Jobs in 20241,220 projected for 2034
+1.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of brickmasons in the state to change by +5.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,160 to 1,220, with about 90 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +1.1% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 780 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for brickmasons in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay brickmasons at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 34 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $50.27 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $35.15). 86 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adair County at $36.49). The market median for the state is $28.76.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $36.49 (survey)Allen: $35.14 (survey)Anderson: $35.15 (survey)Ballard: $50.27 (union)Barren: $36.49 (survey)Bath: $35.15 (survey)Bell: $36.49 (survey)Boone: $52.13 (union)Bourbon: $52.13 (union)Boyd: $52.13 (union)Boyle: $35.15 (survey)Bracken: $52.13 (union)Breathitt: $36.49 (survey)Breckinridge: $50.27 (union)Bullitt: $32.37 (survey)Butler: $35.14 (survey)Caldwell: $50.27 (union)Calloway: $50.27 (union)Campbell: $52.13 (union)Carlisle: $50.27 (union)Carroll: $35.15 (survey)Carter: $36.49 (survey)Casey: $36.49 (survey)Christian: $35.14 (survey)Clark: $52.13 (union)Clay: $36.49 (survey)Clinton: $36.49 (survey)Crittenden: $50.27 (union)Cumberland: $36.49 (survey)Daviess: $35.14 (survey)Edmonson: $35.14 (survey)Elliott: $36.49 (survey)Estill: $35.15 (survey)Fayette: $52.13 (union)Fleming: $35.15 (survey)Floyd: $36.49 (survey)Franklin: $35.15 (survey)Fulton: $50.27 (union)Gallatin: $52.13 (union)Garrard: $35.15 (survey)Grant: $52.13 (union)Graves: $50.27 (union)Grayson: $50.27 (union)Green: $36.49 (survey)Greenup: $52.13 (union)Hancock: $35.14 (survey)Hardin: $32.49 (survey)Harlan: $36.49 (survey)Harrison: $35.15 (survey)Hart: $36.49 (survey)Henderson: $35.14 (survey)Henry: $32.37 (survey)Hickman: $50.27 (union)Hopkins: $50.27 (union)Jackson: $36.49 (survey)Jefferson: $32.06 (survey)Jessamine: $52.13 (union)Johnson: $36.49 (survey)Kenton: $52.13 (union)Knott: $36.49 (survey)Knox: $36.49 (survey)Larue: $32.49 (survey)Laurel: $36.49 (survey)Lawrence: $36.49 (survey)Lee: $36.49 (survey)Leslie: $36.49 (survey)Letcher: $36.49 (survey)Lewis: $35.15 (survey)Lincoln: $35.15 (survey)Livingston: $50.27 (union)Logan: $36.49 (survey)Lyon: $50.27 (union)McCracken: $50.27 (union)McCreary: $36.49 (survey)McLean: $35.14 (survey)Madison: $35.15 (survey)Magoffin: $36.49 (survey)Marion: $36.49 (survey)Marshall: $50.27 (union)Martin: $36.49 (survey)Mason: $35.15 (survey)Meade: $32.49 (survey)Menifee: $35.15 (survey)Mercer: $35.15 (survey)Metcalfe: $36.49 (survey)Monroe: $36.49 (survey)Montgomery: $35.15 (survey)Morgan: $36.49 (survey)Muhlenberg: $50.27 (union)Nelson: $32.37 (survey)Nicholas: $35.15 (survey)Ohio: $50.27 (union)Oldham: $32.37 (survey)Owen: $35.15 (survey)Owsley: $36.49 (survey)Pendleton: $52.13 (union)Perry: $36.49 (survey)Pike: $36.49 (survey)Powell: $35.15 (survey)Pulaski: $36.49 (survey)Robertson: $35.15 (survey)Rockcastle: $35.15 (survey)Rowan: $35.15 (survey)Russell: $36.49 (survey)Scott: $52.13 (union)Shelby: $32.37 (survey)Simpson: $36.49 (survey)Spencer: $32.37 (survey)Taylor: $36.49 (survey)Todd: $50.27 (union)Trigg: $35.14 (survey)Trimble: $32.37 (survey)Union: $50.27 (union)Warren: $35.14 (survey)Washington: $35.15 (survey)Wayne: $36.49 (survey)Webster: $35.14 (survey)Whitley: $36.49 (survey)Wolfe: $36.49 (survey)Woodford: $52.13 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$35.15$36.49$50.27survey 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)Prevailing (survey)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrBoyd (Huntington): market median $22.16, prevailing (union) $52.13, gap +$29.97Boyd (Huntington)+$29.97Bourbon (Lexington): market median $28.63, prevailing (union) $52.13, gap +$23.50Bourbon (Lexington)+$23.50Ballard (Kentucky): market median $28.76, prevailing (union) $50.27, gap +$21.51Ballard (Kentucky)+$21.51Boone (Cincinnati): market median $34.02, prevailing (union) $52.13, gap +$18.11Boone (Cincinnati)+$18.11Meade (Louisville): market median $29.38, prevailing (survey) $32.49, gap +$3.11Meade (Louisville)+$3.11
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for brickmasons, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BooneUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260044
BourbonUnion BRKY0018-004 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260100
BoydUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260101
BrackenUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260102
CampbellUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260088
ClarkUnion BRKY0018-004 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260100
FayetteUnion BRKY0018-004 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260090
GallatinUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260102
GrantUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260102
GreenupUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260101
JessamineUnion BRKY0018-004 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260094
KentonUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260095
PendletonUnion BRKY0018-001 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260102
ScottUnion BRKY0018-004 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260100
WoodfordUnion BRKY0018-004 2024-06-01$35.00$17.13$52.13KY20260100

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Kentucky prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Brickmason pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do brickmasons make in Kentucky?

The median brickmason in Kentucky earned $28.76 an hour ($59,820 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $29.87. The middle half earn $21.66–$33.08; the top 10% earn more than $37.46.

Where does Kentucky rank for brickmason pay?

Kentucky ranks 31st of 50 states for brickmason pay, with a median of $28.76 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union brickmason rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for brickmasons in 34 counties, with a typical package of $50.27 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many brickmasons work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 780 brickmasons in Kentucky in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.15; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is brickmason work growing in Kentucky?

Kentucky's labor market agency projects +5.4% growth for brickmasons between 2024 and 2034, from 1,160 to 1,220 jobs.

How many brickmason openings a year are there in Kentucky?

Kentucky projects about 90 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, Kentucky 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.