Masonry & Concrete recruiters serving Lakeland.
Brickmasons and blockmasons are scarcer in Lakeland than in most of the country, 27% fewer per job, so the roughly 70 who work here are rarely short of offers. BLS counts 9 business locations of nonresidential masonry contractors across the metro. Below: local pay for every role we staff, the state licensing rules that apply and the nearby markets competing for the same people.
Positions we recruit for in Lakeland.
BLS counts about 2,530 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Lakeland metro, the largest group being operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (about 820). Relative to the size of the local economy, brickmasons and blockmasons are far less concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 0.73). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Masonry & Concrete hub.
Bricklayer / Mason
Lakeland: 70 employed · $50,210 median, 79th-highest of 91 metros
Concrete Finisher
Lakeland: 560 employed · $47,440 median, 86th-highest of 111 metros
Concrete Form Setter / Carpenter
Lakeland: 800 employed · $45,970 median, 109th-highest of 112 metros
Masonry Foreman
Lakeland: 1,860 employed · $74,500 median, 92nd-highest of 112 metros
Concrete Pump Operator
Lakeland: 820 employed · $47,900 median, 104th-highest of 112 metros
Estimator
Lakeland: 360 employed · $70,640 median, 100th-highest of 111 metros
Project Manager
Lakeland: 630 employed · $106,140 median, 68th-highest of 111 metros
Restoration Mason
Precast Concrete Technician
Lakeland: 170 employed · $43,680 median, 66th-highest of 85 metros
Concrete Testing Technician
Lakeland: 110 employed · $69,010 median, 34th-highest of 111 metros
What Masonry & Concrete roles earn in Lakeland.
Brickmasons and blockmasons in Lakeland earn a median $50,210, 19% under the $62,120 national figure, and 79th of 91 metros. Pay runs $32,750 at the tenth percentile to $60,330 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is civil engineering technologists and technicians, at $69,010 against $64,950 nationally.
| Role | Lakeland median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bricklayer / Mason · Restoration MasonBrickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021) | $50,210 | $32,750–$60,330 | $62,120 | −19% | 70 |
| Concrete FinisherCement Masons and Concrete Finishers (47-2051) | $47,440 | $36,650–$62,490 | $57,020 | −17% | 560 |
| Concrete Form Setter / CarpenterCarpenters (47-2031) | $45,970 | $35,320–$61,000 | $60,580 | −24% | 800 |
| Masonry ForemanFirst-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011) | $74,500 | $48,840–$101,310 | $79,920 | −7% | 1,860 |
| Concrete Pump OperatorOperating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (47-2073) | $47,900 | $37,440–$65,840 | $59,850 | −20% | 820 |
| EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $70,640 | $42,250–$122,850 | $78,740 | −10% | 360 |
| Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $106,140 | $60,840–$176,860 | $114,990 | −8% | 630 |
| Precast Concrete TechnicianMolders, Shapers, and Casters (51-9195) | $43,680 | $40,640–$54,390 | $46,170 | −5% | 170 |
| Concrete Testing TechnicianCivil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (17-3022) | $69,010 | $41,020–$99,830 | $64,950 | +6% | 110 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Lakeland metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide. A metro ranking counts only the metros where BLS publishes that occupation.
How Lakeland's masonry & concrete market has changed since 2018.
Lakeland lost nonresidential masonry contractors between 2018 and 2023, from 14 business locations to 9 (down 36%), behind the 6% national decline. With so few firms, one opening or closing moves that percentage a long way. Headcount at those firms went down 59%, to about 91 people. Average annual pay there went from $40,776 to $58,255 (+43%), faster than the 23% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up. The number of nonresidential concrete contractors in Lakeland rose from 8 in 2018 to 15 in 2023, up 88%, ahead of the 11% national rise. Headcount at those firms went up 43%, to about 113 people. Average annual pay there went from $46,851 to $49,803 (+6%), slower than the 25% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: business locations | 14 | 9 | −36% |
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: employment | 221 | 91 | −59% |
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: average annual pay | $40,776 | $58,255 | +43% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: business locations | 8 | 15 | +88% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: employment | 79 | 113 | +43% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: average annual pay | $46,851 | $49,803 | +6% |
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers, annual averages. A dash means BLS did not publish the figure.
Free Masonry & Concrete hiring resources.
Definitive Guide to Masonry & Concrete · 2026 Masonry & Concrete Salary Guide · 3-Step Interview Guide for Masonry & Concrete
Lakeland runs 60% more masonry and concrete workers per job than the country as a whole — well above the national concentration. More per job means more people to reach, and more employers reaching them.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (nearest published occupation for this trade). Metro-wide figures for the base occupation; the wage table above is role-specific and commercial.
How Lakeland's masonry and concrete market compares
In 2023 the Lakeland metro had 15 nonresidential concrete contractors (counted by business location), with about 113 people on their payrolls. Average pay at those firms was $49,803, 33.5% below the national average of $74,865 for the same kind of employer. Headcount fell 0.9% over the year even as it grew 5.5% nationally, which usually means people leaving the trade or moving to other markets rather than a lack of work. The number of these employers rose 7.1%, more firms competing for the same crews. That works out to 1.9 per 100,000 residents, close to the 1.9 national rate. These firms account for 0.8% of all construction employment in the metro.
Among the 99 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Lakeland ranks 62nd for headcount, 79th for median pay and 16th for concentration for cement masons and concrete finishers.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 3,820 | $48,860 | 1.02 | 47 |
| Orlando | 2,120 | $47,800 | 1.13 | 42 |
| Tampa | 1,780 | $49,590 | 0.93 | 39 |
| Jacksonville | 980 | $49,260 | 0.97 | 18 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 960 | $48,350 | 2.39 | 25 |
| North Port-Sarasota | 720 | $49,440 | 1.60 | 18 |
| Lakeland | 560 | $47,440 | 1.60 | 9 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne | 370 | $47,410 | 1.14 | 3 |
| Deltona-Daytona | 330 | $48,010 | 1.14 | 8 |
| Port St. Lucie | 290 | $48,280 | 1.27 | 3 |
| Pensacola | 200 | $47,580 | 0.78 | 9 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For masonry and concrete employers in Lakeland, the pool is deep but local employers have been cutting headcount. Experienced people are here, and some will be open to a move, so a clear offer and a defined path up usually beat a higher posted rate.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Lakeland metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Masonry & Concrete licensing in Florida.
Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board issues statewide certified licenses and jurisdiction-specific registered licenses for categories such as general, building, roofing and a range of specialty contractors. Registered licenses are tied to local competency requirements. The same state rules apply in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, North Port-Sarasota, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Deltona-Daytona, Palm Bay-Melbourne, Port St. Lucie and Pensacola, so candidates licensed there can work in Lakeland without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: Construction Industry Licensing Board (Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation). Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Lakeland talent.
The closest metro we cover is Tampa, about 30 miles away, with roughly 360 brickmasons and blockmasons (5.1 times Lakeland's 70). Palm Bay-Melbourne pays the most nearby, a $58,610 median, 17% above Lakeland. That is the number any Lakeland offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. Orlando has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | – | 70 | $50,210 |
| Tampa | 32 mi | 360 | $57,490 |
| Orlando | 49 mi | 380 | $50,470 |
| North Port-Sarasota | 71 mi | – | – |
| Deltona-Daytona | 73 mi | – | – |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne | 83 mi | 30 | $58,610 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for Lakeland crews.
Not masonry & concrete work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into Lakeland in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- MDH Partners industrial portfolio$67.7M purchaseImprovements underway
An Atlanta-based commercial real estate firm's acquisition and planned upgrade of a Lakeland industrial portfolio, reflecting sustained logistics/warehouse demand along the I-4 corridor.
- AdventHealth Winter Haven hospitalUndisclosedPlanned
A four-story, 192-bed hospital with a dedicated emergency department, medical offices, and ancillary facilities.
- Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands HospitalUndisclosedOpened July 8, 2026
Lakeland's first new hospital in a century - a 7-story, 306-bed facility with inpatient care, ICU/progressive care, an emergency department, and 13 ORs now receiving patients; labor/delivery and NICU beds expected to open in the coming months, plus two new Watson Clinic locations on the same site.
Showing 3 of 4 projects tracked in this metro. The Lakeland market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for masonry & concrete, and what kills offers in Lakeland.
The 4 credentials that gate the work and the 4 things that most often end a masonry & concrete offer are the same in every market, kept in one place: Masonry & Concrete credentials and offer risks, each linked to the body that issues it. What is local is the licensing rule above and the pay further up this page.
Frequently asked - Masonry & Concrete hiring in Lakeland.
What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Lakeland?
BLS puts the Lakeland median for brickmasons and blockmasons at $50,210 a year, 19% below the $62,120 national median. That ranks 79th of 91 metros with published figures, in the bottom quarter. Most of the market sits between $32,750 and $60,330, a 1.8x gap and a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. Within Florida, Palm Bay-Melbourne pays more, at $58,610.
Is it hard to hire brickmasons and blockmasons in Lakeland?
Yes. Lakeland has 27% fewer brickmasons and blockmasons per job than the country as a whole, roughly 70 in the metro, so most of the people worth hiring are already employed. The 9 nonresidential masonry contractors here average about 10 employees per location. There are 36% fewer of those firms than in 2018, so experienced people have fewer local employers to move between.
Which masonry & concrete roles pay the most in Lakeland?
Of the roles we recruit for, Project Manager pays the most in Lakeland, a $106,140 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Concrete Testing Technician at $69,010, 35% below it. Precast Concrete Technician is the lowest-paid field role at $43,680. Relative to national pay, Concrete Testing Technician is the strongest-paying role here (6% above). Concrete Form Setter / Carpenter trails national pay the most (24% below).
How many nonresidential masonry contractors operate in Lakeland?
BLS counted 9 nonresidential masonry contractors in Lakeland in 2023, employing about 91 people between them. Down from 14 in 2018, a 36% decline against 6% decline nationally. That averages 10 people per location. They pay an average of $58,255, 15% below the $68,219 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counted 15 nonresidential concrete contractors in Lakeland in 2023, employing about 113 people between them. Up from 8 in 2018, an 88% increase against 11% growth nationally. That averages 7.5 people per location, so most are small shops. They pay an average of $49,803, 33% below the $74,865 national average for the same kind of employer.
Which nearby metros compete with Lakeland for brickmasons and blockmasons?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Tampa (32 miles, about 360, $57,490 median), Orlando (49 miles, about 380, $50,470 median) and Palm Bay-Melbourne (83 miles, about 30, $58,610 median). Tampa has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. Tampa pays 14% more, which is where Lakeland employers tend to lose people.
Thin market. Short list anyway.
With brickmasons and blockmasons this scarce in Lakeland, an open seat rarely fills from a job posting. Let's line up the people before the next one opens.
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