Bricklayer salary: how awards and the national minimum wage compare

Bricklayer salary: how awards and the national minimum wage compare

When you search for a "bricklayer salary" in Australia, you're likely looking for a real-world figure – what you can expect to earn on site, not just a theoretical minimum. This guide uses the Salary Index to place bricklayer pay against the national line, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings ($108,352 per year as of May 2026). We'll walk through the award rates, the median market earnings, and how they stack up against the national minimum wage.

The award floor for bricklayers

Most bricklayers in Australia are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020). Under this award, a qualified bricklayer is typically classified at Level 3 (CW/ECW 3). The minimum weekly rate from 1 July 2026 is $1,119.10, which works out to $29.45 per hour for a 38-hour week. But that's just the base classification rate. The award also requires industry allowances – $67.15 per week for general building and civil construction, or $53.72 for residential work – plus a tool allowance of $29.26 per week for bricklayers. Once you add those, the effective minimum hourly rate is around $31.22 to $32.00, depending on the sector.

The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide shows ordinary hourly rates for Level 3 bricklayers ranging from $32.64 (residential) to $33.00 (metals and engineering construction). These figures include the relevant allowances. So the award minimum for a bricklayer is clearly above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, index 48.2). In fact, the award floor sits at roughly 30% higher than the national minimum.

What bricklayers actually earn

Award rates are just the starting point. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics data analysed by Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for bricklayers and stonemasons in May 2025 was $2,317. That's $53 per hour, based on an average 42-hour week. Annualised, that's $120,484 – giving a Salary Index of 111.2, well above the national line of 100.

This gap between award minimums and actual earnings is common in the construction industry. Many bricklayers work on piece rates (paid per thousand bricks laid) or have enterprise agreements that lift pay above the award. The median figure also reflects experienced tradespeople, while apprentices and new entrants earn less.

Bricklayer salary vs national minimum wage: a comparison

To put it in perspective:

• National minimum wage (2026): $26.44/hr, $1,004.90/week, index 48.2
• Award minimum (Level 3 bricklayer, including allowances): ~$32/hr, ~$1,215/week, index ~58
• Median bricklayer earnings: $53/hr, $2,317/week, index 111.2

Even the award minimum is comfortably above the national minimum. The median bricklayer earns more than double the national minimum wage. This reflects the skill, physical demands, and productivity of the trade.

How the Salary Index works

The Salary Index compares annual gross ordinary-time earnings to the national benchmark. An index of 100 means you earn exactly the average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. For bricklayers, the median index of 111 means they earn 11% above that line. By contrast, the national minimum wage sits at 48.2, and entry-level award jobs (like Level 1 construction) are around 47.

State variations also matter. The index for New South Wales is 101.2, for Victoria 98, and for Western Australia 106.9 – but these are economy-wide averages. Bricklayer earnings can vary more by local demand and project type. For a state-level view, see our states page.

What about super and tax?

From 1 July 2026, the superannuation guarantee is 12% on earnings up to $270,830 per quarter. So a bricklayer earning the median $2,317 per week would have an additional $278 in super each week, bringing total remuneration to about $2,595 per week.

For tax, a resident bricklayer earning $120,484 in 2026–27 would pay roughly $29,138 in income tax plus $2,410 Medicare levy (2%), assuming the tax-free threshold and no other deductions. That leaves a take-home of about $88,936 per year, or $1,710 per week. But remember, this is a rough estimate – individual circumstances vary.

Where to find more

If you're comparing bricklayer salaries across different roles or industries, our industries page shows how construction stacks up against other sectors. For a deeper look at how awards set minimums, see our pay guides section. And if you want to understand the methodology behind the index, read how the index works.

The bottom line

A bricklayer salary in Australia is well above the national minimum wage, even at the award level. The median bricklayer earns an index of 111, reflecting strong demand for the trade. Whether you're an apprentice starting out or an experienced tradesperson, the award provides a safety net, but the market often pays more. Always check the specific award classification and any applicable allowances – and remember that the Salary Index gives you a quick way to see where any pay figure sits against the national line.