Career comparison
Brickmason vs. Refractory Repairer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Brickmasons earn more at the median ($62,120 vs. $61,290), while refractory repairers usually get to work faster (Several months on the job of training). Brickmasons build durable walls, chimneys and structures from brick, block and stone. Refractory repairers reline and repair furnaces, kilns and boilers with heat-resistant materials.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Brickmason | Refractory Repairer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,120 ($29.87/hr) | $61,290 ($29.47/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $44,820 – $100,010 | $40,590 – $86,510 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.1% (slower than average) | -13.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 4,100 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) | Several months on the job |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | Confined space training |
| Work setting | Masons work outdoors on residential, commercial and institutional construction, often on scaffolds. | Repairers work inside furnaces, kilns and boilers in heavy industry.. |
What each job does
Brickmason
- Read blueprints and lay out walls
- Mix mortar to the right consistency
- Build leads and set string lines
- Lay brick and block in level, plumb courses
- Install wall ties, flashing, weep holes and reinforcement
Refractory Repairer
- Inspect refractory linings
- Tear out worn material
- Install brick and castable
- Spray or gun refractory
- Repair furnace doors and seals
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as patience and precision and stamina.
Which should you choose?
Choose brickmason if…
- I like building things that last
- I’m comfortable with heavy physical work
- I take pride in neat, precise results
Choose refractory repairer if…
- I like heavy work
- I don’t mind heat and dust
- I can work in tight spaces
Still torn? Take the Brickmason fit quiz and the Refractory Repairer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, brickmason or refractory repairer?
Brickmasons earn more at the median: $62,120 versus $61,290 for refractory repairers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Refractory Repairers typically train faster (Several months on the job) than brickmasons (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects brickmasons to grow +1.1% from 2025–35, compared with -13.7% for refractory repairers.