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Brickmasons and Blockmasons vs Carpenters: what changes?

Consider Brickmasons and Blockmasons if you want to lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions…. Consider Carpenters if you would rather construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood…. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Brickmasons and Blockmasons and Carpenters. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Brickmasons and Blockmasons

National median pay (2025)
$62,120
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate
Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
4,100
Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Brickmasons and Blockmasons brief

Carpenters

National median pay (2025)
$60,580
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate
Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
62,800
Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Carpenters brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Carpenters has the edge on annual openings

Carpenters is at 62,800 annual openings, compared with 4,100 annual openings for Brickmasons and Blockmasons.

2

Carpenters has the edge on projected growth

Carpenters is at 3.9% projected growth, compared with 1.1% projected growth for Brickmasons and Blockmasons.

3

Brickmasons and Blockmasons has the edge on median pay

Brickmasons and Blockmasons is at $62,120, compared with $60,580 for Carpenters.

50.5/ 100

Brickmasons and Blockmasons

vs
69.4/ 100

Carpenters

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Brickmasons and Blockmasons vs Carpenters

DimensionBrickmasons and BlockmasonsCarpenters
Median pay (2025)$62,120$60,580
Pay percentile51.6 percentile49 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)1.1%3.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)4,10062,800
2025 employment62,400889,700
How you qualifyHigh school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirementsHigh school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 2Job Zone 2
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingApprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Brickmasons and Blockmasons briefRead Carpenters brief

Try another comparison

Brickmasons and Blockmasons vs Sheet Metal Workers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Brickmasons and Blockmasons
$62,120 · 1.1% growth
Sheet Metal Workers
$61,800 · 2.5% growth
Compare careers →

Carpenters vs Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Carpenters
$60,580 · 3.9% growth
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
$58,970 · -5.3% growth
Compare careers →

Carpenters vs Sheet Metal Workers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Carpenters
$60,580 · 3.9% growth
Sheet Metal Workers
$61,800 · 2.5% growth
Compare careers →
ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.