Mason Resume Examples by Level (2026)

Mason Resume Examples & Templates for 2025

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly 20,700 annual openings for masonry workers through 2034, yet the trade faces a persistent labor shortage as experienced journeymen retire faster than apprentices enter the pipeline. A mason resume that lands interviews must do more than list years of experience — it needs to quantify production rates, demonstrate proficiency across brick, block, stone, and concrete masonry, and prove you understand the safety and quality standards that separate a craftsman from a laborer. This guide provides three complete, ATS-optimized resume examples for every career stage, along with industry-specific keywords, professional summary templates, and formatting strategies built for construction hiring managers who spend an average of six seconds on an initial scan.

Table of Contents

• Why This Role Matters
• Entry-Level Mason Resume Example
• Journeyman Mason Resume Example
• Master Mason / Foreman Resume Example
• Key Skills for Mason Resumes
• Professional Summary Examples
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• ATS Optimization Tips for Construction Resumes
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Citations

Why This Role Matters

Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons held approximately 294,300 jobs in 2024, building everything from single-family homes and commercial office parks to hospital campuses and historical restorations. The median annual wage for masonry workers reached $56,600 in May 2024, with the top 10% earning above $90,120 — compensation that reflects both the physical demands and the specialized skill required to lay materials plumb, level, and to specification across multi-story structures. Employment is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, but that modest percentage obscures the reality: tens of thousands of openings will appear annually as veteran masons retire and infrastructure investment continues under federal and state programs. Masonry remains one of the oldest construction trades, and hiring managers in this space value demonstrated craft above all else. A foreman at a commercial masonry contractor reads your resume differently than an HR coordinator at a tech company. They look for production metrics (bricks or blocks laid per day), project scale (square footage completed, dollar value of contracts), safety compliance (OSHA certifications, zero-incident records), and trade credentials like NCCER certification or completion of an International Masonry Institute (IMI) apprenticeship. Your resume must speak this language fluently. The mason shortage is real and accelerating. According to the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the industry has struggled for over a decade to attract enough apprentices to replace retiring craftsmen. That shortage creates opportunity — masons with documented skills, clean safety records, and journeyman or master credentials command premium wages, particularly in commercial and institutional construction where projects run into the tens of millions of dollars.

Entry-Level Mason / Apprentice Resume (0-2 Years)

TYLER J. GARCIA
Brickmason / Masonry Apprentice
Phoenix, AZ 85016 | (480) 555-0173 | tyler.j.garcia@email.com
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NCCER Masonry Level 1-certified apprentice with 18 months of on-the-job
training in residential and light commercial brick and block construction.
Consistently lay 350+ standard bricks per 8-hour shift while maintaining
plumb and level tolerances within 1/8 inch. OSHA 10-Hour Construction
certified with zero recordable incidents across 4 project sites. Seeking
to advance into a journeyman role with a commercial masonry contractor.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SKILLS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Brick Laying | CMU Block Work | Mortar Mixing (Type N, S, M) |
Blueprint Reading | Leveling & Plumb | Trowel Techniques |
Scaffolding Assembly | Masonry Saw Operation | Joint Finishing |
Concrete Block Installation | Grout Pouring | Rebar Placement |
OSHA 10-Hour Construction | NCCER Masonry Level 1 | Tape Measure Layout |
Wheelbarrow & Hod Carrying | Clean-Up & Site Prep | Hand Tool Maintenance
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
WORK EXPERIENCE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MASONRY APPRENTICE
Sunbelt Masonry Contractors | Phoenix, AZ | June 2023 – Present
- Laid 350-400 standard bricks per day on residential foundation walls
and exterior facades, exceeding apprentice production benchmarks by 15%
- Mixed and applied Type S mortar at a 3:1 sand-to-cement ratio for
load-bearing walls across 6 single-family home projects valued at
$280K–$450K each
- Installed 1,200+ 8-inch CMU blocks over a 3-week period on a 4,800
sq ft commercial retail build, maintaining ±1/8-inch plumb tolerance
- Operated masonry wet saws to cut 500+ bricks for window and door
openings, achieving clean cuts with less than 2% waste rate
- Erected and inspected tubular steel scaffolding to 24 feet, conducting
daily safety checks per OSHA 1926.451 scaffold standards
CONSTRUCTION LABORER
Desert Ridge General Contractors | Tempe, AZ | Jan 2022 – May 2023
- Prepared mortar beds, delivered materials, and staged brick pallets
for a 4-person masonry crew across 12 residential job sites
- Transported 60+ wheelbarrow loads of mortar and aggregate daily,
keeping mason crews supplied with zero downtime on material delivery
- Assisted senior masons with layout and string-line placement on
foundation walls totaling 14,000 linear feet over 12 months
- Cleaned and maintained masonry tools (trowels, jointers, levels,
mixers), reducing equipment replacement costs by $1,800 annually
- Completed site clean-up and debris removal on projects ranging from
$150K to $1.2M in total contract value
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
EDUCATION & APPRENTICESHIP
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Masonry Apprenticeship (In Progress)
Arizona Masonry Apprenticeship Program | Phoenix, AZ
NCCER-Accredited | 2,000 of 6,000 OJT hours completed
Related instruction: 288 classroom hours (blueprint reading, mortar
chemistry, layout geometry, scaffold safety)
High School Diploma
North Canyon High School | Phoenix, AZ | 2021
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CERTIFICATIONS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
- NCCER Masonry Level 1 (2023)
- OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety (2022)
- First Aid / CPR – American Red Cross (Current)
- Arizona Contractor Licensing Board – Apprentice Registration (Active)

**What makes this resume work:** Tyler leads with production metrics (350+ bricks/day), ties them to project scale ($280K-$450K homes), and shows progression from laborer to apprentice. The NCCER credential and apprenticeship hours provide a clear trajectory toward journeyman status.

Journeyman Mason Resume (3-7 Years)

MARCUS D. WHITFIELD
Journeyman Brickmason
Charlotte, NC 28205 | (704) 555-0291 | m.whitfield.mason@email.com
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Journeyman brickmason with 6 years of experience across commercial,
institutional, and residential masonry construction. Completed NCCER
Masonry Levels 1-3 and hold MCAA Masonry Certified Craftsman (MCC)
credential. Specialize in structural brick veneer, CMU backup walls,
and natural stone installation on projects up to $18M contract value.
Average 500+ face bricks per day on commercial exteriors while
maintaining zero punch-list deficiencies on final inspections.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SKILLS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Structural Brick Veneer | CMU Load-Bearing Walls | Natural Stone
Installation | Architectural Block (Split-Face, Burnished, Ground-Face) |
Mortar Types N, S, M, O | Thin-Set Stone Veneer | Tuckpointing &
Repointing | Masonry Restoration | Through-Wall Flashing | Weep Hole
Installation | Control Joint Layout | Reinforced Masonry (Rebar & Grout) |
Blueprint & Shop Drawing Interpretation | Laser Level Operation |
Scaffold Erection to 60 ft | Masonry Wet Saw & Angle Grinder |
Forklift & Telehandler Operation | OSHA 30-Hour Construction |
NCCER Masonry Levels 1-3 | Crew Training & Mentorship
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
WORK EXPERIENCE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
JOURNEYMAN BRICKMASON
Piedmont Masonry, Inc. | Charlotte, NC | March 2021 – Present
- Installed 185,000+ face bricks on a $14.8M, 6-story mixed-use
development, completing the exterior veneer 4 days ahead of the
general contractor's milestone schedule
- Laid 2,400 sq ft of natural limestone veneer on the main entrance
of a 120,000 sq ft hospital addition, achieving zero deficiencies
on the architect's final punch-list inspection
- Built 9,600 linear feet of 8-inch and 12-inch CMU backup walls for
commercial office buildings, grouting and installing #5 rebar at
48-inch centers per structural engineer specifications
- Trained and mentored 3 first-year apprentices on trowel technique,
mortar consistency, and string-line accuracy, with all 3 passing
NCCER Level 1 assessments within 10 months
- Maintained a zero-incident safety record across 14 consecutive
projects, logging 4,800+ hours without a lost-time injury
MASON / BRICK & BLOCK SPECIALIST
Carolina Constructors, LLC | Raleigh, NC | Aug 2019 – Feb 2021
- Completed structural CMU walls on 3 elementary school projects
totaling 42,000 sq ft of block work, meeting seismic reinforcement
requirements per IBC 2018 Chapter 21
- Laid 400+ split-face architectural blocks per day on retail strip
centers, coordinating with steel erectors and electricians to
maintain embedded conduit schedules
- Installed through-wall flashing, weep holes, and control joints on
26,000 sq ft of brick veneer, passing 100% of third-party moisture
barrier inspections
- Cut and fit 3,200+ specialty shapes (rowlock sills, soldier courses,
angled jambs) using a 14-inch masonry saw, maintaining ±1/16-inch
dimensional accuracy
- Reduced mortar waste by 12% across 8 projects by standardizing
batch mix proportions and training laborers on proper mixing
procedures
MASONRY APPRENTICE
Iredell Masonry Company | Statesville, NC | June 2018 – July 2019
- Completed 2,000+ OJT hours under journeyman supervision across
residential and light commercial brick and block projects
- Laid 300+ bricks per shift on single-family homes, progressing to
400+ per shift within 8 months under journeyman mentorship
- Assisted with layout and coursing on 8 residential foundations
totaling 6,400 linear feet, achieving consistent head and bed
joint spacing within 3/8-inch tolerance
- Earned NCCER Masonry Level 1 and Level 2 certifications during
the apprenticeship program's classroom instruction component
- Erected scaffolding to 36 feet on 2-story residential projects,
conducting pre-shift inspections per OSHA scaffold standards
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
EDUCATION & TRAINING
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NCCER Masonry Apprenticeship (Completed — 6,000+ OJT Hours)
Iredell-Statesville Masonry JATC | Statesville, NC | 2018–2021
Central Piedmont Community College
Construction Technology Coursework (24 credit hours)
Charlotte, NC | 2017–2018
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CERTIFICATIONS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
- MCAA Masonry Certified Craftsman (MCC) (2023)
- NCCER Masonry Levels 1, 2, and 3 (2018–2021)
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety (2020)
- Scaffold Competent Person – OSHA 1926.451 (2021)
- Forklift / Telehandler Operator Certification (Current)
- First Aid / CPR / AED – American Heart Association (Current)

**What makes this resume work:** Marcus demonstrates specialization depth — brick veneer, CMU structural walls, natural stone, and architectural block — backed by project-level metrics ($14.8M mixed-use, 185,000+ face bricks, 42,000 sq ft block work). The MCAA MCC credential and NCCER Level 3 distinguish him from masons without formal trade verification.

Master Mason / Foreman Resume (8+ Years)

JAMES R. KOWALSKI
Master Mason / Masonry Foreman
Chicago, IL 60618 | (312) 555-0437 | j.kowalski.masonry@email.com
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Master mason and working foreman with 14 years of field experience
directing crews of 8-22 on commercial, institutional, and historic
restoration masonry projects ranging from $2M to $38M. Hold MCAA
Masonry Certified Craftsman credential and NCCER Masonry Level 4
certification. Delivered 47 consecutive projects on schedule and within
budget over the past 5 years, with a crew safety record of 62,000+
man-hours without a lost-time incident. Skilled in project estimating,
material take-offs, crew scheduling, and direct coordination with
general contractors, architects, and structural engineers.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SKILLS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Crew Leadership (8-22 person teams) | Project Estimating & Bidding |
Material Take-Offs & Procurement | Production Scheduling | Blueprint
& Specification Review | Structural Brick & Block Construction |
Historic Masonry Restoration | Tuckpointing & Repointing | Stone
Veneer (Limestone, Granite, Sandstone) | Decorative & Architectural
Masonry | Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) | Reinforced Masonry Design |
Through-Wall Flashing Systems | Movement Joint Layout | Masonry
Cleaning & Sealing | Quality Control Inspections | OSHA Compliance
& Safety Management | Scaffold Planning & Inspection | Laser Transit
& Total Station Layout | Cost Tracking & Daily Reporting | Apprentice
Training & Development | Union Coordination (BAC Local) | General
Contractor Interface | Architect & Engineer RFI Response
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
WORK EXPERIENCE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MASONRY FOREMAN / MASTER MASON
Midwest Masonry Corporation | Chicago, IL | April 2018 – Present
- Direct crews of 12-22 masons, apprentices, and laborers on commercial
and institutional masonry projects valued at $4M–$38M, delivering
all 28 assigned projects on or ahead of schedule since 2020
- Managed the masonry scope on a $38M university science building:
coordinated installation of 320,000 face bricks, 18,000 sq ft of
Indiana limestone panels, and 45,000 sq ft of CMU backup walls
across an 11-month schedule with zero change orders attributable
to masonry
- Produced material take-offs and labor estimates for 15+ bids annually,
contributing to a 34% win rate on competitive commercial proposals
totaling $85M in submitted value
- Reduced crew idle time by 18% through a revised material staging and
delivery schedule, saving approximately $124,000 in labor costs over
a 2-year period across 9 projects
- Maintained a crew safety record of 62,000+ man-hours without a
lost-time incident, conducting weekly toolbox talks and monthly
scaffold audits per OSHA 1926.451 and 1926.700 (masonry construction)
- Trained and developed 11 apprentices through NCCER Levels 1-3, with
8 advancing to journeyman status and 3 remaining in the program
JOURNEYMAN MASON / LEAD MASON
Lakeshore Masonry, Inc. | Evanston, IL | May 2014 – March 2018
- Led a 6-person crew on historic restoration projects throughout
Chicago's North Side, repointing 28,000 sq ft of century-old
common-bond brick facades using historically accurate lime-putty
mortar matched to original specifications
- Installed 14,500 sq ft of architectural ground-face CMU and split-face
block on a $7.2M community recreation center, completing the scope
12 days ahead of the GC's milestone
- Performed tuckpointing and selective brick replacement on 4 landmark
buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
achieving approval from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
on all restoration scopes
- Coordinated daily with general contractors, ironworkers, and
mechanical trades on 8 active job sites, resolving an average of
3 RFIs per week related to masonry details and embedded items
- Supervised $420,000 in annual material procurement (brick, block,
mortar, stone, flashing, reinforcement), keeping waste under 4%
across all project inventories
MASONRY APPRENTICE / JOURNEYMAN MASON
Kowalski Brothers Masonry | Cicero, IL | Aug 2010 – April 2014
- Completed a 4-year BAC Local 21 apprenticeship (8,000 OJT hours,
576 classroom hours) in brick, block, stone, and restoration masonry
- Progressed from apprentice (350 bricks/day) to journeyman production
rate (550+ bricks/day) within 30 months, ranking in the top 10% of
the apprenticeship cohort on the practical skills exam
- Laid structural 12-inch CMU walls on 3 warehouse projects totaling
64,000 sq ft, installing horizontal bond beam reinforcement and
grouted cells per structural drawings
- Installed natural sandstone and limestone ashlar veneer on 2 church
restoration projects, hand-cutting 1,400+ stones to match existing
coursing patterns dating to the 1920s
- Earned NCCER Masonry Levels 1-4 and MCAA Masonry Certified Craftsman
(MCC) credential upon apprenticeship completion
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
EDUCATION & TRAINING
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BAC Local 21 Joint Apprenticeship Program (Completed)
International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
Chicago, IL | 2010–2014
8,000 OJT hours | 576 classroom hours | NCCER-accredited
Construction Management Coursework (30 credit hours)
College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 2015–2017
Estimating, scheduling, construction law, project controls
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CERTIFICATIONS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
- MCAA Masonry Certified Craftsman (MCC) (2014, renewed 2024)
- NCCER Masonry Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 (2010–2014)
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety (2016, refreshed 2022)
- OSHA Scaffold Competent Person (2017)
- OSHA Concrete & Masonry – 29 CFR 1926.700 Series (2019)
- Forklift, Telehandler & Boom Lift Operator (Current)
- First Aid / CPR / AED – National Safety Council (Current)
- Illinois Lead Abatement Supervisor License (2020)

**What makes this resume work:** James presents himself as a profit-center, not just a tradesman. Material take-offs, bid win rates (34% on $85M submitted), labor cost savings ($124,000), and project scale ($38M university building with 320,000 face bricks) demonstrate that a master mason/foreman must operate at the intersection of craft and business. The historic restoration specialization adds a high-value niche that commands premium billing rates.

Key Skills for Mason Resumes

Include these ATS-targeted keywords throughout your resume, selecting those that match your actual experience and the specific job posting.

Technical Masonry Skills

• Brick laying (standard, face, fire brick)
• CMU block installation (4", 6", 8", 12")
• Stone masonry (limestone, granite, sandstone, marble, fieldstone)
• Mortar mixing and application (Types N, S, M, O)
• Thin-set stone veneer installation
• Concrete block construction
• Structural reinforced masonry
• Tuckpointing and repointing
• Masonry restoration and preservation
• Grout pouring and consolidation
• Through-wall flashing installation
• Weep hole and drainage systems
• Control joint and expansion joint layout
• Masonry cleaning and sealing

Tools & Equipment

• Masonry trowels (brick, pointing, margin)
• Mason's levels and plumb bobs
• String lines and story poles
• Masonry wet saws (14-inch, table-mounted)
• Angle grinders with diamond blades
• Mortar mixers (drum and continuous)
• Laser levels and transits
• Scaffolding (tubular, frame, mast-climbing)
• Forklifts and telehandlers
• Power concrete vibrators

Construction Knowledge

• Blueprint and shop drawing reading
• Construction math and layout geometry
• Building code compliance (IBC Chapter 21)
• Scaffold safety (OSHA 1926.451)
• Masonry construction standards (OSHA 1926.700)
• Material estimating and take-offs
• Quality control and inspection processes
• Crew coordination and scheduling

Professional Summary Examples

**Entry-Level / Apprentice:** NCCER-certified masonry apprentice with 1,500+ OJT hours in residential and light commercial brick and block construction. Consistently produce 350+ standard bricks per 8-hour shift with ±1/8-inch plumb accuracy. OSHA 10-Hour certified with zero safety incidents across 6 project sites. Advancing through a state-registered apprenticeship program with projected journeyman completion in 2026. **Mid-Career / Journeyman:** Journeyman brickmason with 5 years of commercial construction experience specializing in structural brick veneer, CMU backup systems, and architectural block. MCAA Masonry Certified Craftsman (MCC) with a verified production rate of 500+ face bricks per day and a 100% pass rate on third-party quality inspections across 18 projects. OSHA 30-Hour certified with 6,200+ consecutive safe work hours. **Senior / Foreman:** Masonry foreman with 12 years of progressive experience directing crews of up to 20 on institutional and commercial projects valued at $5M-$30M. Delivered 35+ projects on schedule and within budget over the past 4 years while maintaining a 48,000+ man-hour zero-lost-time-incident safety record. Skilled in project estimating, material take-offs, and crew development, with 9 apprentices trained to journeyman certification under direct supervision.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Listing Years of Experience Without Production Metrics

Hiring managers at masonry contractors need to gauge your speed and quality. Writing "5 years of bricklaying experience" tells them almost nothing. Write "500+ face bricks per day with zero punch-list deficiencies on final inspection" instead. Production rates — bricks per day, blocks per day, square feet of veneer per week — are the universal language of the trade.

2. Omitting Project Scale and Dollar Values

A mason who worked on a $500K residential addition and a mason who worked on a $25M hospital expansion bring different capabilities to the table. Always include project values, square footage, and scope descriptions. If you do not know the exact contract value, provide a reasonable estimate or describe the project size (number of stories, building type, total masonry square footage).

3. Leaving Off Trade Certifications and Apprenticeship Details

NCCER levels, MCAA MCC credentials, IMI certifications, and BAC apprenticeship completion are not minor details — they are the closest thing the masonry trade has to a professional license. List every level completed, the year earned, and the accrediting body. Include apprenticeship OJT hours and classroom hours to demonstrate structured training.

4. Ignoring Safety Credentials and Records

Construction employers face steep OSHA penalties and workers' compensation costs. A mason who lists OSHA 10 or 30-Hour certification, scaffold competent person training, and a specific safe-hours record (e.g., "8,400 hours without a lost-time incident") immediately reduces a contractor's perceived risk. Omitting safety credentials suggests you either do not have them or do not value them — both are red flags.

5. Using Vague Descriptions Instead of Specific Materials and Methods

"Built walls" is meaningless on a mason resume. Specify the material (8-inch CMU, face brick, limestone veneer), the method (running bond, stack bond, ashlar pattern), the mortar type (N, S, M), and any reinforcement (grouted cells, rebar, bond beams). This specificity demonstrates genuine trade knowledge and passes keyword filters in applicant tracking systems.

6. Failing to Show Career Progression

Masonry has a clear career ladder: laborer, apprentice, journeyman, lead mason, foreman, superintendent. If your resume shows the same title for 8 years with no increase in responsibility, crew size, or project complexity, it signals stagnation. Even if your official title did not change, show escalating scope — larger projects, bigger crews, estimating responsibilities, apprentice mentoring.

7. Neglecting to Mention Specializations

Commercial brick veneer, historic restoration, stone masonry, and concrete block work are distinct specializations with different skill sets and pay scales. A mason who can tuckpoint a 100-year-old building with historically accurate lime-putty mortar commands a different rate than one who lays standard CMU. Name your specializations explicitly.

ATS Optimization Tips for Construction Resumes

1. Mirror the Job Posting's Exact Terminology

If the posting says "CMU installation," use "CMU installation" — not "concrete block laying" or "block work." Applicant tracking systems match literal keyword strings. Read the job posting three times and build your skills section and experience bullets around its specific language.

2. Use a Clean, Single-Column Format

Construction company ATS platforms (iCIMS, Workday, BambooHR, and the custom portals used by large general contractors) parse single-column resumes far more reliably than multi-column or graphically designed layouts. Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers for critical content, and images. Use standard section headings: "Professional Summary," "Work Experience," "Skills," "Education," "Certifications."

3. Spell Out Certifications and Include Abbreviations

Write "OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety (OSHA 30)" and "National Center for Construction Education and Research Masonry Level 3 (NCCER Level 3)." This catches both the spelled-out and abbreviated keyword searches. The same applies to "Mason Contractors Association of America Masonry Certified Craftsman (MCAA MCC)."

4. Include Hard Numbers in Every Experience Bullet

ATS scoring algorithms increasingly weight quantified achievements. Bullets with numbers — "laid 480 bricks per day," "managed crew of 14," "completed 22,000 sq ft of CMU" — score higher than narrative descriptions. Use digits, not spelled-out numbers, for better visual scanning and keyword parsing.

5. Add a Dedicated Skills Section with 15-20 Keywords

Many ATS platforms scan the skills section independently from experience descriptions. Create a skills section that lists 15-20 trade-specific terms directly from the job posting. Include both technical skills (tuckpointing, scaffold erection, mortar mixing) and tools/equipment (masonry wet saw, laser level, telehandler).

6. Save as .docx Unless the Posting Specifies PDF

Most ATS platforms parse .docx files with higher accuracy than PDFs. The exception is when the job posting explicitly requests PDF format. Never submit a .jpg, .png, or Google Docs link. Name the file professionally: "James_Kowalski_Mason_Resume.docx."

7. Place Your Most Relevant Experience First

If you are applying for a commercial masonry foreman position and your most recent role was residential, lead with a summary that highlights your commercial experience and list commercial projects prominently in your bullets. ATS scoring often weights the first 30% of the document more heavily.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a mason resume be?

One page for apprentices and entry-level masons with under 3 years of experience. One to two pages for journeymen with 3-7 years, depending on the number of significant projects. Two pages maximum for foremen and master masons with 8+ years. Construction hiring managers prefer brevity — they care about project metrics and certifications, not lengthy narratives. If you need two pages, ensure every line contains a quantified achievement or verifiable credential.

Should I include my apprenticeship on my resume?

Absolutely. A completed apprenticeship — whether through a BAC/IMI joint apprenticeship program, an NCCER-accredited program, or a state-registered program — is one of the strongest credentials in the masonry trade. List the program name, accrediting body, total OJT hours completed (typically 6,000-8,000), classroom instruction hours, and NCCER levels earned. For in-progress apprenticeships, list hours completed to date and expected completion. The apprenticeship section can replace or supplement a traditional education section.

What certifications matter most for a mason resume?

The highest-impact credentials are: (1) NCCER Masonry Levels 1-4, which provide nationally standardized verification of trade knowledge from the National Center for Construction Education and Research; (2) MCAA Masonry Certified Craftsman (MCC), the industry's premier craftsman credential from the Mason Contractors Association of America, covering 100 questions across codes, standards, safety, and installation practices; (3) OSHA 10-Hour (entry-level) and OSHA 30-Hour (journeyman/foreman) Construction Safety certifications; and (4) specialized credentials like Scaffold Competent Person, Forklift/Telehandler Operator, and Lead Abatement certifications for restoration work. If you hold any IMI (International Masonry Institute) training certifications, those carry weight with union contractors.

Do I need a different resume for union vs. non-union mason jobs?

The core content — production metrics, project history, certifications — stays the same. For union positions, emphasize your BAC (Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers) local membership, apprenticeship completion through a joint apprenticeship and training committee (JATC), and IMI training credentials. For non-union applications, emphasize NCCER certifications, MCAA MCC credential, project diversity, and any estimating or business skills. In both cases, OSHA certifications and safety records carry equal weight.

How do I handle gaps in employment on a mason resume?

Construction trades inherently involve seasonal layoffs, project gaps, and weather-related downtime — experienced hiring managers understand this. If the gap was less than 3-4 months, the standard construction work calendar explains it without comment. For longer gaps, note any productive activity: "Completed OSHA 30-Hour certification," "Attended NCCER Level 3 classroom instruction," or "Performed residential masonry repairs as independent contractor." Never fabricate employment dates. If you transitioned out of masonry temporarily, state it honestly and highlight what brought you back and what skills transferred.

Citations

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Masonry Workers: Occupational Outlook Handbook." BLS.gov. Accessed 2025. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/brickmasons-blockmasons-and-stonemasons.htm
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Brickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021)." BLS.gov. May 2024. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes472021.htm
3. National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). "Masonry Craft Catalog." NCCER.org. https://www.nccer.org/craft-catalog/masonry/
4. Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA). "Masonry Certification." MasonContractors.org. https://masoncontractors.org/certification/
5. International Masonry Institute Training and Education Foundation (IMTEF). "Training Programs." IMTEF.org. https://imtef.org/
6. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "Construction Industry Outreach Training." OSHA.gov. https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach/construction
7. O*NET OnLine. "Brickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021.00)." U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2021.00
8. OSHA Education Center. "Concrete and Masonry Safety Training." OSHAEducationCenter.com. https://www.oshaeducationcenter.com/compliance-training/concrete-masonry-certificate/
9. Masonry Magazine. "Embarking on the Masonry Career Path." MasonryMagazine.com. January 2022. https://www.masonrymagazine.com/blog/2022/01/12/embarking-on-the-masonry-career-path/
10. CareerExplorer. "How to Become a Brickmason." CareerExplorer.com. https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/brickmason/how-to-become/