Bricklayer Salary UK 2025 — Slang, Stats and Straight Facts

Think bricklayers are just “on the trowel” for fun? Think again. In 2025, the bricklayer salary UK range from £29,000 to £60,000 a year, depending on experience and type of work. Some earn more than office jobs—without the spreadsheets and meetings. Let’s break it down: no filler, just straight-up figures, banter, and builder talk.

How Much Do Bricklayers Make?

The average bricklayer salary UK in 2025 is about £40,300 per year. Not bad for a trade that doesn’t need a degree. Entry-level bricklayers earn around £29,000 to £32,000, while experienced hands bring in £50,000 or more.

Self-employed brickies? They’re on a whole different level. Most charge £300 to £320 a day, which adds up to £55,000 to £60,000 a year before expenses.

Bricklayer Salary UK by Experience Level

Here’s what bricklayers pocket depending on their time on the job:

• Apprentice: Around £11,000 per year, or about £212 a week.
• Newly Qualified: Around £29,000 to £32,000 yearly, £2,400 to £2,700 monthly.
• Mid-Career (4–7 years): Between £32,000 and £40,000 a year, £2,700 to £3,300 monthly.
• Experienced (8+ years): From £40,000 to over £50,000 annually, £3,300 to £4,200 monthly.

A fresh apprentice makes about £212 a week. But put in the years, and you’re clearing nearly a grand weekly.

Self-Employed Bricklayer Salary UK

Go solo and your earning game changes. Sole traders often charge £38 an hour, and limited company bricklayers pull in £40 an hour. That’s £300 to £320 a day—more than some lawyers on paper.

But it’s not all gravy. Self-employed brickies buy their own tools, sort their own tax, and handle all business costs. Expect £7,000 to £10,000 in expenses a year.

Still, you’re likely to take home more than a full-timer. Plus, you’re your own boss. And nothing beats that feeling.

Regional Bricklayer Salary UK in 2025

Some parts of the UK pay more for bricklayers than others. Location matters. Here’s the lowdown:

• London: Around £50,000 to £52,000. Some earn up to £64,000.
• Manchester: Around £30,000.
• Birmingham: Between £33,000 and £37,000.
• Scotland: Around £36,900.
• Wales: About £39,800.
• Northern Ireland: Around £32,100.

Brickies in London are built with bigger bucks. A top London bricklayer can pull £64,000. That’s before bonuses or side jobs. But remember: London life costs more too.

Employed vs Self-Employed Comparison

• Employed: Earn around £18 to £20 an hour, totalling £30,000 to £40,000 a year.
• Self-Employed: Charge £38 to £40 an hour or £300 to £320 daily, making around £55,000 to £60,000 a year.

Employed bricklayers get job security, holidays, and no tax hassle. But the ceiling’s lower. Self-employed brickies hustle harder and earn more but deal with the business side.

Pick your path—either way, it’s a decent living.

Bricklayer Slang: Know Your Site Speak

Want to sound like a brickie? Learn the lingo:

• On the trowel – Working as a bricklayer
• Spread – Mortar (the glue that holds bricks)
• Hod – A tool for carrying bricks
• Lift – A layer of bricks
• Line – The guide string to keep rows straight

Use these right, and the crew will know you’re not just another pencil-pusher.

Extra Income: How Bricklayers Make More Money

Smart brickies make more with side jobs. Garden walls. Driveways. Extensions. Some even teach apprentices or run small teams. Others flip houses on the side.

With skill and hustle, a good bricklayer turns day work into long-term cash.

Bricklayer Job Perks Beyond the Pay

• Job security – Always demand for bricks and blocks
• No suit required – Comfort beats collar
• Outdoor work – Fresh air beats air con
• No uni debt – Learn while you earn

And at the end of the day? You can point at a wall and say, “I built that.” Not many jobs let you do that.

Weekly Bricklayer Salary UK Breakdown

Wondering how pay breaks down week by week? Here’s what it looks like:

• Trainee – Around £200/week
• Qualified starter – Around £600/week
• Mid-experience – Around £770/week
• Veteran brickie – Around £950/week
• Self-employed – £1,500/week (before expenses)

And yes, the work is hard. But for many, the money makes the aches worth it.

Hard Graft Behind the Bricklayer Salary

Let’s not sugar-coat it. Bricklaying is physical. Long hours, all weathers, heavy lifting. Rain or shine, bricks still need laying.

But if you’re not afraid of graft, the trade pays off.

Apprentice Bricklayer Salary UK in 2025

Apprentices start at the bottom, earning about £11,000/year. But they get paid to learn. By year two or three, many double that figure. Once qualified, it’s game on.

No student loan. No lecture halls. Just real work, real pay.

Tips to Boost Your Bricklayer Salary UK

Want to climb the pay ladder? Here’s how:

• Go self-employed – Control your rates
• Work in London – Bigger jobs, better pay
• Get more tickets – NVQs, CSCS cards, site skills
• Specialise – Repointing, arches, heritage work
• Lead a crew – Manage jobs and earn a cut

It’s not just how well you lay bricks. It’s how smart you move in the trade.

Final Thoughts

A bricklayer’s wage in the UK stacks up in 2025. Whether you’re on-site in Sheffield or high-rises in London, the trade still pays. Entry-level pay starts around £29k, with vets earning £50k+. Self-employed bricklayers often cross the £60k mark—even after expenses.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s real. It’s honest. And the money’s solid.

If you’ve got strong hands, sharp lines, and a good attitude, bricklaying’s a job that builds a life, not just walls. Ready to earn serious cash? Get skilled. Explore our Bricklaying Training Course at Open Learning Academy.