Masonry & Concrete recruiters serving Richmond.
Richmond has 93% more brickmasons and blockmasons per job than the country as a whole, about 430 in the metro. BLS counts 30 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 Richmond.
BLS counts about 6,700 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Richmond metro, the largest group being carpenters (about 3,070). Relative to the size of the local economy, brickmasons and blockmasons are far more concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 1.93). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Masonry & Concrete hub.
Bricklayer / Mason
Richmond: 430 employed · $51,800 median, 74th-highest of 91 metros
Concrete Finisher
Richmond: 630 employed · $45,670 median, 103rd-highest of 111 metros
Concrete Form Setter / Carpenter
Richmond: 3,070 employed · $51,870 median, 67th-highest of 112 metros
Masonry Foreman
Richmond: 4,460 employed · $76,630 median, 71st-highest of 112 metros
Concrete Pump Operator
Richmond: 2,220 employed · $55,280 median, 67th-highest of 112 metros
Estimator
Richmond: 1,080 employed · $77,540 median, 62nd-highest of 111 metros
Project Manager
Richmond: 1,270 employed · $110,350 median, 53rd-highest of 111 metros
Restoration Mason
Precast Concrete Technician
Richmond: 140 employed · $44,420 median, 59th-highest of 85 metros
Concrete Testing Technician
Richmond: 210 employed · $66,940 median, 42nd-highest of 111 metros
What Masonry & Concrete roles earn in Richmond.
Brickmasons and blockmasons in Richmond earn a median $51,800, 17% under the $62,120 national figure, and 74th of 91 metros. Pay runs $40,190 at the tenth percentile to $61,520 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is civil engineering technologists and technicians, at $66,940 against $64,950 nationally.
| Role | Richmond median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bricklayer / Mason · Restoration MasonBrickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021) | $51,800 | $40,190–$61,520 | $62,120 | −17% | 430 |
| Concrete FinisherCement Masons and Concrete Finishers (47-2051) | $45,670 | $37,710–$64,310 | $57,020 | −20% | 630 |
| Concrete Form Setter / CarpenterCarpenters (47-2031) | $51,870 | $37,990–$69,640 | $60,580 | −14% | 3,070 |
| Masonry ForemanFirst-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011) | $76,630 | $53,000–$108,220 | $79,920 | −4% | 4,460 |
| Concrete Pump OperatorOperating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (47-2073) | $55,280 | $40,650–$74,400 | $59,850 | −8% | 2,220 |
| EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $77,540 | $48,520–$114,270 | $78,740 | −2% | 1,080 |
| Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $110,350 | $79,580–$191,940 | $114,990 | −4% | 1,270 |
| Precast Concrete TechnicianMolders, Shapers, and Casters (51-9195) | $44,420 | $36,440–$54,360 | $46,170 | −4% | 140 |
| Concrete Testing TechnicianCivil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (17-3022) | $66,940 | $40,670–$88,730 | $64,950 | +3% | 210 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Richmond 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 Richmond's masonry & concrete market has changed since 2018.
The number of nonresidential masonry contractors in Richmond rose from 26 in 2018 to 30 in 2023, up 15%, ahead of the 6% national decline. Headcount at those firms went down 31%, to about 385 people, so more firms are sharing fewer workers. Average annual pay there went from $41,022 to $57,528 (+40%), faster than the 23% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up. The number of nonresidential concrete contractors in Richmond rose from 30 in 2018 to 38 in 2023, up 27%, ahead of the 11% national rise. Headcount at those firms went up 33%, to about 714 people. Average annual pay there went from $52,749 to $64,204 (+22%), slower than the 25% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: business locations | 26 | 30 | +15% |
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: employment | 557 | 385 | −31% |
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: average annual pay | $41,022 | $57,528 | +40% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: business locations | 30 | 38 | +27% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: employment | 536 | 714 | +33% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: average annual pay | $52,749 | $64,204 | +22% |
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
Richmond runs 28% fewer masonry and concrete workers per job than the country as a whole — well below the national concentration. Fewer per job means the people you want are already working, and usually for someone who would rather keep 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 Richmond's masonry and concrete market compares
In 2023 the Richmond metro had 38 nonresidential concrete contractors (counted by business location), with about 714 people on their payrolls. Average pay at those firms was $64,204, 14.2% below the national average of $74,865 for the same kind of employer. Headcount grew 15.9% over the year, faster than the 5.5% national increase, so local employers were adding people quicker than most of the country. The number of these employers rose 5.6%, more firms competing for the same crews. That works out to 2.8 per 100,000 residents against 1.9 nationally, a crowded field where experienced people get approached often.
Among the 99 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Richmond ranks 56th for headcount, 94th for median pay and 67th for concentration for cement masons and concrete finishers. Pay here is among the lowest we see, which makes relocation offers from higher-paying metros a real retention risk.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 790 | $49,580 | 0.78 | 32 |
| Richmond | 630 | $45,670 | 0.72 | 30 |
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 Richmond, the local pool is thin and local employers have been cutting headcount. Senior hires often come from outside the metro or from adjacent trades, so start searches earlier than you would elsewhere.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Richmond metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Masonry & Concrete licensing in Virginia.
Virginia requires a contractor license for jobs over $1,000. Class C covers jobs under $30,000, Class B covers $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A covers $150,000 or more; annual volume limits also apply. Each license carries specialty designations for the type of work. The same state rules apply in Virginia Beach, so candidates licensed there can work in Richmond without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: Board for Contractors (Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation). Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Richmond talent.
The closest metro we cover is Virginia Beach, about 95 miles away, with roughly 400 brickmasons and blockmasons (0.9 times Richmond's 430). Washington, D.C. pays the most nearby, a $60,670 median, 17% above Richmond. That is the number any Richmond offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. Washington, D.C. has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | – | 430 | $51,800 |
| Virginia Beach | 95 mi | 400 | $50,370 |
| Washington, D.C. | 95 mi | 1,910 | $60,670 |
| Baltimore | 128 mi | 580 | $58,000 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 134 mi | – | – |
| Raleigh | 139 mi | 290 | $49,920 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for Richmond crews.
Not masonry & concrete work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into Richmond in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- Richmond-area data-center capacity surge100MW → 800MW+ in H1 2025Ongoing, fastest of any US city
A sevenfold increase in six months - Richmond added more data-center capacity in the first half of 2025 than any other US city, growing faster than Dallas and Chicago combined. This is the single defining trend shaping commercial trades demand in the metro.
- Google Chesterfield County data centerPart of a $9B Virginia-wide planFirst Richmond-area facility
Google's first Richmond-area data center, in Chesterfield County's Meadowville Technology Park, with two more county sites planned. Direct mechanical and electrical demand inside the metro itself.
- CleanArc Caroline County campus~$3B (900MW, three buildings, ~1.47M sq ft total -- not the $11B/3.9M figure sometimes cited)Multi-year, broke ground
One of the largest data-center campuses announced along the I-95 corridor stretching toward Richmond - a massive draw on the same regional mechanical and electrical labor pool Richmond-based contractors compete for.
Showing 3 of 4 projects tracked in this metro. The Richmond market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for masonry & concrete, and what kills offers in Richmond.
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 Richmond.
What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Richmond?
BLS puts the Richmond median for brickmasons and blockmasons at $51,800 a year, 17% below the $62,120 national median. That ranks 74th of 91 metros with published figures, in the bottom quarter. Pay is bunched together here, $40,190 to $61,520 across the 10th to 90th percentile and only a 1.5x gap, so small differences in an offer are noticed. No other Virginia metro we cover pays more for this work (Virginia Beach: $50,370).
Is it hard to hire brickmasons and blockmasons in Richmond?
Not by national standards. Brickmasons and blockmasons make up 93% more of the Richmond workforce than they do nationally, about 430 people. The 30 nonresidential masonry contractors here average about 13 employees per location. With 15% more of those firms than in 2018, more employers are competing for the same crews.
Which masonry & concrete roles pay the most in Richmond?
Of the roles we recruit for, Project Manager pays the most in Richmond, a $110,350 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Concrete Testing Technician at $66,940, 39% below it. Precast Concrete Technician is the lowest-paid field role at $44,420. Relative to national pay, Concrete Testing Technician is the strongest-paying role here (3% above). Concrete Finisher trails national pay the most (20% below).
How many nonresidential masonry contractors operate in Richmond?
BLS counted 30 nonresidential masonry contractors in Richmond in 2023, employing about 385 people between them. Up from 26 in 2018, a 15% increase against 6% decline nationally. That averages 13 people per location. They pay an average of $57,528, 16% below the $68,219 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counted 38 nonresidential concrete contractors in Richmond in 2023, employing about 714 people between them. Up from 30 in 2018, a 27% increase against 11% growth nationally. That averages 19 people per location. They pay an average of $64,204, 14% below the $74,865 national average for the same kind of employer.
Which nearby metros compete with Richmond for brickmasons and blockmasons?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Virginia Beach (95 miles, about 400, $50,370 median), Washington, D.C. (95 miles, about 1,910, $60,670 median) and Baltimore (128 miles, about 580, $58,000 median). Washington, D.C. has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. Washington, D.C. pays 17% more, which is where Richmond employers tend to lose people.
Plenty of people. Few of them looking.
Richmond has one of the deeper pools of brickmasons and blockmasons we cover, but the best of them are already working. Let's find the ones ready to move.
Schedule a Discovery Call →