How Much Do Bricklayers Get Paid in the UK (2025)?

You’re here for one reason — how much do bricklayers get paid? Straight up, in the UK in 2025, a bricklayer can earn anywhere from £650 to over £5,000 per 1,000 bricks, depending on the brick type and job complexity. Employed bricklayers usually pull in £18 to £20 an hour, while self-employed brickies can make £300+ a day.

But that’s just the start.

Let’s break it down, no BS, no fluff. This is Work Boots & Real Talk—just solid info you can use.

Price Work: How Much Do You Get Per Brick in the UK?

No one’s out here laying bricks just for the love of the game. You want to know what each one’s worth. And yeah — “price work” makes that possible.

Price work means you get paid for how many bricks you lay. Simple. The more you lay, the more you make. But the pay per brick? That changes depending on the job.

Here’s what self-employed bricklayers are pulling in per 1,000 bricks in 2025:

• Common Bricks: £650 to £1,500
• Engineering Bricks: £650 to £1,790
• Clay Facing Bricks: £2,260 to £5,000+

Average rate? Around £1,220 per 1,000 bricks. So if you’re smashing through 500 bricks in a day, you’re looking at £610 for that day’s work.

But that’s under good conditions. We’re talking clean site, solid labourer, decent weather. Things go sideways fast when the mud’s thick or bricks crumble.

Bricklayer Salary UK: What You Earn as an Employee

If you’re not on price work, you’re probably employed. That means a steady wage and regular hours.

Here’s the current breakdown for 2025:

• Hourly Wage: £18 to £20
• Daily Pay: £145 to £160
• Yearly Salary: Around £31,000 to £40,000

New to the game? Expect a starting rate around £18.19 an hour. The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) sets a minimum of £16.66 per hour for full craft bricklayers with NVQ Level 3. That’s your floor — not your ceiling.

It’s reliable. You get paid time off, sick leave, and no stress about invoices or taxes. But you won’t make as much as the guys running their own thing.

How Much Do Bricklayers Get Paid When Self-Employed?

Now we’re talking about the higher end of bricklayer wage UK numbers.

Self-employed brickies take on more risk. But they often earn way more. You pick your jobs. You set your rate.

Here’s what’s normal in 2025:

• Hourly Rate: £38 to £40 (can be higher)
• Daily Rate: £300 to £320
• Annual Take: £56,000 to £59,000+

Sounds solid, right? It is — if you stay busy and run things right. Just remember, you’ve got to pay for your own tools, van, fuel, insurance, and tax. There’s no holiday pay or sick days. If you don’t work, you don’t earn.

Still, many bricklayers start out employed, then switch to self-employed once they’ve got speed and skills. That’s when the real money kicks in.

What Affects Your Bricklayer Wage UK?

There’s no single number that fits everyone. How much you make depends on a bunch of things:

Experience

• Newbies get lower rates. You’re learning the ropes.
• Mid-level brickies speed up and earn more per day.
• Old hands get the complex work — and the top pay.

Location

Where you work makes a massive difference. London and the South East pay more. Cost of living’s higher, so wages follow.

Up North or in Wales? Expect a little less. But the work’s steadier and the bills are lower.

Job Type

Big money jobs usually aren’t basic garden walls. Commercial builds and fancy homes pay more. Intricate work means more skill — and more cash.

Brick Type

You already know the price changes with the brick. Common bricks are quick and cheap. Fancy clay facing bricks? Slower to lay but pay way better.

Site Conditions

Fast bricklaying only happens on clean, prepped sites. If you’re fighting mud, weather, or bad access — you slow down. And when you slow down, you earn less.

Daily Targets: How Many Bricks Can You Lay?

A solid bricklayer can lay around 500 bricks a day. That’s on a good day with a decent labourer and proper setup.

But here’s what can mess that up:

• Crap weather
• Poor access to materials
• Weak mortar
• Bad bricks
• Fussy details or patterns

Let’s do the math again: 500 bricks at £1,220 per 1,000 = £610 for that day. Not bad at all.

Just know that not every day looks like that. Some days are 300 bricks. Some days are 150. It evens out.

Bricklaying vs. Other Trades: Can You Beat It?

Thinking of switching trades? Wondering, “How can I become a car mechanic instead?” That’s a whole different game. But here’s the deal:

Bricklaying gives you a skill that’ll always be needed. Cars might go electric. Some may fix themselves one day. But bricks? Bricks still need hands.

To become a bricklayer:

• Get an apprenticeship or go through college.
• Aim for NVQ Level 2 or 3.
• Start on-site as a labourer.
• Watch, learn, and hustle.

The more you know, the faster you go. Fast = more bricks = more money.

Employed vs Self-Employed: Which One’s for You?

Not everyone wants to be self-employed. Not everyone wants to stay on payroll either. Here’s the real breakdown:

Being Employed

Pros:

• Steady money
• Paid holidays and sick leave
• No admin

Cons:

• Lower daily pay
• Less freedom
• Can’t choose your jobs

Being Self-Employed

Pros:

• Higher pay per day
• Pick your own work
• More control over time and money

Cons:

• No sick pay or holiday money
• You chase payments
• You pay for everything

Most bricklayers go employed first. Get trained. Get confident. Then go solo when they’re ready.

The Future of Bricklayer Pay in the UK

It’s looking solid.

The BATJIC wage deal for 2025–2026 has already raised the pay by 3%. Construction’s still booming. And good brickies? Always in demand.

Even as tech gets better, bricks don’t lay themselves. Drones can’t build your wall. AI can’t point your mortar.

If you know what you’re doing, there’s cash to be made. Stay sharp, get qualified, and work clean.

Final Word: Know Your Worth

So, how much do bricklayers get paid? As much as you’re worth — and as much as you can lay.

On price work, your bricks pay you. On payroll, your hours do. Either way, you’ve got a skill that builds homes, walls, and your bank account.

Want the most from this trade? Learn fast, lay faster, and know what good work looks like. Go employed if you need stability. Go self-employed when you want freedom and bigger cheques.

Your trowel can take you from £31K a year to £60K and beyond. That’s the real answer. Now get out there and earn it. Want to earn more? Get trained. Enrol in our online Bricklaying Course at Open Learning Academy. Learn fast. Work smart. Get paid.