Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Brick & Block Masons:
52.6%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forBrickmasons and Blockmasons
$62,120 median salary•4,100 annual openings•SOC Code: 47-2021.00
Brickmasons and Blockmasons are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Bricklaying earns a "Mostly Resilient" label because the physical, judgment-heavy nature of the work is genuinely difficult for machines to fully replicate. Every jobsite brings different conditions, layouts, and challenges that require a skilled human eye and hands to navigate, and while robots like the SAM100 and Hadrian X can handle some repetitive placement tasks, they work alongside human masons rather than replacing them.
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Bricklaying earns a "Mostly Resilient" label because the physical, judgment-heavy nature of the work is genuinely difficult for machines to fully replicate. Every jobsite brings different conditions, layouts, and challenges that require a skilled human eye and hands to navigate, and while robots like the SAM100 and Hadrian X can handle some repetitive placement tasks, they work alongside human masons rather than replacing them.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Brick & Block Masons
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Brick & Block Masons jobs?
If you're worried a robot is about to take a bricklayer's spot on the crew, take a deep breath — the reality is much more balanced. Physical bricklaying is one of the hardest jobs to automate because every wall, weather condition, and jobsite is different. A few specialized machines exist, like the SAM100 semi-automated mason, which picks, butters and places bricks alongside human crews so people can focus on detail work, alignment and finishing [1], and Australia's Hadrian X, which uses laser-guided positioning and dynamic stabilization to lay masonry with millimeter accuracy directly from a digital model [1].
Newer startups like Buildroid AI plan to run Nvidia Omniverse–powered digital-twin simulations before deploying block-laying robots and material-handling bots on U.S. jobsites in 2026 [2]. Even so, the BAC union reports that AI's impact on membership is currently most significant in design and engineering — the pre-construction phase — where building information modeling and AI-assisted design tools reshape how projects are drawn up and sequenced [3], meaning AI is mostly augmenting the blueprint-reading and estimating tasks rather than replacing the trowel work itself.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Brick & Block Masons?
Adoption will likely be slow but steady. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects masonry employment will grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,400 openings each year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change jobs [4] — meaning demand for human masons remains strong. Persistent labor shortages are actually pushing contractors toward robotics: investors poured hundreds of millions into construction-robot startups in 2026 as machines began doing real work for established contractors [5].
But high equipment costs, custom jobsite conditions, and union concerns about worker surveillance slow things down. Encouragingly, skilled trades are increasingly seen as AI-resistant careers, with young people retraining as bricklayers because hands-on construction jobs are less exposed to AI disruption [6]. The takeaway for you: learning to read digital blueprints, work with layout robots, and master the craft's judgment calls will make you the person AI helps, not replaces.
Sources
Will AI replace Brick & Block Masons?
No. We don't think AI will replace Brickmasons and Blockmasons, though we do expect the job to change.
Our 52.6% AI Resilience Score reflects a core truth about this trade: every wall, every weather condition, and every jobsite is different. That variability is genuinely hard to automate. Machines like the SAM100 semi-automated mason and Australia's laser-guided Hadrian X can handle repetitive brick placement [1], and startups like Buildroid AI plan to deploy block-laying robots on U.S. jobsites as soon as 2026 [2]. But these tools work alongside human crews, not instead of them. The judgment calls, the finishing work, the real-world problem-solving on a messy site still need a person.
The broader job picture is steady rather than exciting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 18,400 openings per year through 2035, driven mostly by retirements [4]. Labor shortages are actually pushing contractors toward robotics to fill gaps, not cut headcount [5]. Meanwhile, young people are actively retraining as bricklayers precisely because hands-on trades are seen as less exposed to AI disruption [6].
The mason who learns to read digital blueprints and work with layout robots will be the one AI helps most. That is a career worth building.
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Latest AI news for Brick & Block Masons
These articles highlight the evolving landscape for Brickmasons and Blockmasons in the age of AI. While AI may automate some tasks, like masonry inspections, it also opens opportunities for higher-paying roles. For instance, advancements in AI for design can enhance project planning, and robotic bricklaying machines, despite their limitations, indicate a shift in construction methods. Students should focus on developing skills that complement AI technologies, ensuring resilience in their careers while embracing the potential for improved efficiency and safety in masonry work.
AI & Masonry Jobs: Will AI Replace Helpers Brickmasons?
myjobvsai.com • 9/20/2026
AI impact on masonry helpers: 45% tasks automated by 2030. Learn the timeline, affected roles, and how to transition to higher-paying mason jobs.
What Does Artificial Intelligence Offer Masonry Design?
masonrydesignmagazine.com • 9/20/2026
AI is applicable to inspecting and classifying cracks in masonry buildings, for example, which will be especially useful in areas with earthquakes, subsidence, ...
Will AI replace brickmasons?
www.careerexplorer.com • 9/20/2026
Sep 8, 2026 — AI won't replace brickmasons, but it's changing how projects are planned and inspected. Robotic bricklaying machines exist but struggle with ... Read more
Artificial intelligence in masonry engineering
www.sciencedirect.com • 9/20/2026
by J McAlister · 2026 — Hybrid AI–physics frameworks support seismic vulnerability assessment, digital twins, and rapid evaluation of existing and heritage masonry structures.
Will AI Replace Construction Jobs? 2026 Risk Analysis
www.replacedbai.com • 9/20/2026
Based on our analysis of 65 occupations, the average AI replacement risk in construction is 69/100. 37 jobs face high risk, while 5 jobs have low risk.
More Career Info
Career: Brickmasons and Blockmasons
They build and repair walls, floors, and other structures by laying bricks and blocks, ensuring everything is strong and safe.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$62,120
Jobs (2025)
62,400
Growth (2025-35)
+1.1%
Annual Openings
4,100
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Construct 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 la...
2
Remove burned or damaged brick or mortar, using sledgehammer, crowbar, chipping gun, or chisel.
3
Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
4
Lay and align bricks, blocks, or tiles to build or repair structures or high temperature equipment, such as cupola, kilns, ovens, or furnaces.
5
Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
6
Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using broom, wire brush, or scraper.
7
Spray or spread refractory material over brickwork to protect against deterioration.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
