Reports · Bricklayer (Red Seal)
TRADE REPORT · LAST VERIFIED 2026-08-04
Bricklayer (401A) Wages & Outlook in Canada — Trade Report
Also known as: Brick and Stone Mason, 401A, mason, stonemason.
What the bricklayer (red seal) trade actually pays, where the work is, how the certification path works, and how the exam is weighted — sourced and dated, all on one page. Nothing below is a guess.
The trade in 30 seconds
This trade employed about 10,700 people across Canada as of 2023 (NOC 72320 (Job Bank/COPS group 72320 counts apprentices alongside certified bricklayers; the stats are not journeypersons-only)) [2]. This trade has been Red Seal-designated since 1962 [7]. Trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec; voluntary in Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon; not offered in Northwest Territories, Nunavut. [4]
Practice Bricklayer (Red Seal) free →
What you'll earn
Government of Canada Job Bank wage data (reference period 2023-2024) puts the national median at $40.00/hour, with a spread from $25.78 to $48.78 [1]. The published spread runs from $31.00/hour in Nova Scotia to $41.85/hour in Alberta.
Median hourly wage by province/territory, highest to lowest
Some smaller jurisdictions don't publish separate wage data for this occupation.
View exact numbers
| Province / territory | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $41.85 | $28.00–$54.00 |
| Quebec | $40.89 | $26.31–$43.85 |
| Manitoba | $38.88 | $25.41–$44.20 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $38.50 | $25.00–$52.47 |
| British Columbia | $38.00 | $27.50–$50.00 |
| Ontario | $38.00 | $25.00–$50.83 |
| Saskatchewan | $36.30 | $25.45–$42.67 |
| New Brunswick | $32.00 | $21.00–$48.31 |
| Nova Scotia | $31.00 | $22.50–$36.63 |
| Northwest Territories | — | no data published |
| Nunavut | — | no data published |
| Prince Edward Island | — | no data published |
| Yukon | — | no data published |
Source: Job Bank wage report, NOC 72320, updated 2025-11-19 [1]. The same Job Bank page reports 84.8% of workers here also receive a non-wage benefit nationally.
One advantage of the Red Seal system: it's portable across jurisdictions, so the spread above is a real guide if you're weighing a move.
Where the jobs are
The official federal assessment for 2024–2033: moderate risk of labour shortage, 2024-2033, at the national level [3] The workforce is 31% aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age of 67.0 [2]. Most work is in construction 98% — more concentrated in one industry than almost any other Red Seal trade [3].
Why openings exist
expansion ~24%; replacement ~76% — this is a retirement-driven trade, not a boom.
Job Bank 3-year employment outlook by province
View as a table
| Rating | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Good | Nova Scotia, Ontario |
| Moderate | Manitoba, Alberta |
| Very limited | Quebec, British Columbia |
| Undetermined | Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
Source: Job Bank outlook report, NOC 72320, updated 2025-12-10 [2].
The path to Red Seal
Total apprenticeship hours, by jurisdiction
Sorted shortest to longest. A few trade-qualifier-only or differently-measured jurisdictions aren't safely comparable as an hours figure and are omitted here -- see the full breakdown below.
View exact numbers
- 5,400 total hours in NL/NS/PE/NB/MB/BC/YT
- Ontario 5,600
- Alberta 5,520
- Saskatchewan 6,000
- Quebec 6,900 (the longest)
- NT and NU offer no program
Source: interjurisdictional apprenticeship comparison [4].
Working the trade already but never certified?
Challenge / trade-qualifier hours, by jurisdiction
- 8,100 in NL/NS/PE/NB/MB/YT
- 9,000 SK
- 7,290 BC
- 7,200 AB
- 5,600 ON
- no challenge route in QC
- n/a in NT/NU
Source: interjurisdictional apprenticeship comparison [4].
Money on the table: the federal Team Canada Strong package includes: $6B plan to recruit 80,000-100,000 new Red Seal trades workers over five years; $400/week Apprenticeship Training Grant during in-class technical training, worth up to $16,000 per apprentice, in addition to EI; one-time $5,000 Red Seal completion bonus. amounts are 'up to' figures; first payments expected no earlier than fall 2026; core funding starts 2026-27 [9]
- Quebec runs the longest program in the country at 6,900 hours — roughly 1,500 more than the 5,400 most jurisdictions require [4]
- Concrete Finisher (NOC 73100) and Construction Craft Worker are separate Red Seal tickets — masonry work does not transfer between them [7]
The exam — and what to study most
The exam behind this Red Seal ticket is 125 questions, pass mark 70% [8], writing time four hours [5]. Weighting isn't even across the exam — this is the real, source-published breakdown:
Official exam weightings, highest to lowest
Sorted highest to lowest — Builds masonry systems (top) carries the most marks on its own (22%).
View exact numbers
| Block | Share of exam | ≈ Questions |
|---|---|---|
| C — Builds masonry systems | 22% | — |
| B — Performs general masonry practices | 19% | — |
| A — Performs common occupational skills | 12% | — |
| G — Performs restoration | 11% | — |
| D — Builds natural stone systems | 10% | — |
| E — Builds chimneys and fireplaces | 10% | — |
| F — Installs refractories and corrosion resistant materials | 9% | — |
| H — Performs additional masonry | 7% | — |
Source: Red Seal exam information [5].
In plain terms: Builds masonry systems carries 22% of the exam on its own. Score yourself per block with a diagnostic run before you decide what to review. Try a free diagnostic on Bricklayer (Red Seal) →
Practice against the same standard
The bricklayer (red seal) bank on this site is organized to the same standard as the real exam, so weak blocks in practice point to weak blocks on the day. Free to start, no account needed. The full bank runs 600 questions.
Practice Bricklayer (Red Seal) free →
The best links
- red-seal.ca — Official Red Seal Bricklayer page: designation, the standard, and the exam links.
- red-seal.ca — The exam's real structure from the source: 125 questions across eight blocks.
- red-seal.ca — The official block weightings — what the exam actually asks about, and how much of it.
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Government of Canada wage data by province (2023-2024).
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Job Bank: three-year prospects by province plus the ten-year national outlook.
- occupations.esdc.gc.ca — COPS 2024-2033: projected openings, seekers, and what drives them.
- ellischart.ca — Ellis Chart (ESDC): apprenticeship hours and certification status in all 13 jurisdictions.
- red-seal.ca — The official exam guide: 70% pass mark, four-hour writing time, question style.
Sources
- Job Bank — Wages: Bricklayer (NOC 72320). Data period 2023-2024; updated 2025-11-19. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- Job Bank — Outlook (NOC 72320). updated 2025-12-10. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- ESDC — Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) 2024-2033. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- Ellis Chart (ESDC) — interjurisdictional apprenticeship comparison. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- Red Seal — exam information. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- Red Seal — exam weightings. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- Official Red Seal Bricklayer page: designation, the standard, and the exam links. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- The official exam guide: 70% pass mark, four-hour writing time, question style. Accessed 2026-08-04.
- Prime Minister's Office — Team Canada Strong announcement. updated 2026-04-29. Accessed 2026-08-04.
Take this as a dated, sourced snapshot, not advice. Wage and outlook numbers change over time — the linked government sources above always have today's figures.