Bricklayer & Blockmason
Skilled Trades
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, arches, sewers, and other structures.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
- 2Construct corners by fastening in plumb position a corner pole or building a corner pyramid of bricks, and filling in between the corners using a line from corner to corner to guide each course, or layer, of brick.
- 3Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.
- 4Calculate angles and courses and determine vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.
- 5Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
- 6Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
- 7Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
- 8Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
- 9Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using broom, wire brush, or scraper.
- 10Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, dirt, or mortar powder with water to form refractory mixtures.
- 11Examine brickwork or structure to determine need for repair.
- 12Lay and align bricks, blocks, or tiles to build or repair structures or high temperature equipment, such as cupola, kilns, ovens, or furnaces.
- 13Remove burned or damaged brick or mortar, using sledgehammer, crowbar, chipping gun, or chisel.
- 14Spray or spread refractory material over brickwork to protect against deterioration.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Liner
- Mason
- Fitter
- Setter
- Tender
- Patcher
- Reliner
- Blockmason
- Bricklayer
- Brickmason
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
Typical entry
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Building and Construction95%
Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Mathematics69%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- English Language65%
English
- Public Safety and Security63%
- Production and Processing62%
Design & Technology (RBT)Mechanical Engineering Studies
- Design62%
Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
- Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
- Indoors, air-conditionedRarely
- Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
- Noisy environmentEvery day
- Time spent sittingAlmost none
- Time spent standingAlmost all the time
Where this job is heading
Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.
- Use drone technology to inspect and assess the condition of tall structures.
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
If this interests you, these are worth a look too.
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org