Masonry & Concrete recruiters serving San Diego.
Brickmasons and blockmasons are scarcer in San Diego than in most of the country, 50% fewer per job, so the roughly 260 who work here are rarely short of offers. BLS counts 19 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 San Diego.
BLS counts about 15,440 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the San Diego metro, the largest group being carpenters (about 8,710). Relative to the size of the local economy, brickmasons and blockmasons are far less concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 0.50). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Masonry & Concrete hub.
Bricklayer / Mason
San Diego: 260 employed · $63,280 median, 46th-highest of 91 metros
Concrete Finisher
San Diego: 2,330 employed · $66,530 median, 11th-highest of 111 metros
Concrete Form Setter / Carpenter
San Diego: 8,710 employed · $73,200 median, 14th-highest of 112 metros
Masonry Foreman
San Diego: 7,000 employed · $95,850 median, 15th-highest of 112 metros
Concrete Pump Operator
San Diego: 3,130 employed · $83,670 median, 11th-highest of 112 metros
Estimator
San Diego: 2,740 employed · $87,170 median, 11th-highest of 111 metros
Project Manager
San Diego: 3,800 employed · $133,210 median, 9th-highest of 111 metros
Restoration Mason
Precast Concrete Technician
San Diego: 310 employed · $48,140 median, 27th-highest of 85 metros
Concrete Testing Technician
San Diego: 700 employed · $80,840 median, 11th-highest of 111 metros
What Masonry & Concrete roles earn in San Diego.
Brickmasons and blockmasons in San Diego earn a median $63,280, level with the $62,120 national figure, and 46th of 91 metros. Pay runs $48,510 at the tenth percentile to $101,820 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, at $83,670 against $59,850 nationally.
| Role | San Diego median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bricklayer / Mason · Restoration MasonBrickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021) | $63,280 | $48,510–$101,820 | $62,120 | +2% | 260 |
| Concrete FinisherCement Masons and Concrete Finishers (47-2051) | $66,530 | $47,170–$102,760 | $57,020 | +17% | 2,330 |
| Concrete Form Setter / CarpenterCarpenters (47-2031) | $73,200 | $47,310–$117,580 | $60,580 | +21% | 8,710 |
| Masonry ForemanFirst-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011) | $95,850 | $60,230–$147,850 | $79,920 | +20% | 7,000 |
| Concrete Pump OperatorOperating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (47-2073) | $83,670 | $54,520–$136,080 | $59,850 | +40% | 3,130 |
| EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $87,170 | $55,610–$151,140 | $78,740 | +11% | 2,740 |
| Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $133,210 | $82,290–$208,350 | $114,990 | +16% | 3,800 |
| Precast Concrete TechnicianMolders, Shapers, and Casters (51-9195) | $48,140 | $37,210–$61,510 | $46,170 | +4% | 310 |
| Concrete Testing TechnicianCivil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (17-3022) | $80,840 | $57,780–$99,170 | $64,950 | +24% | 700 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, San Diego 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 San Diego's masonry & concrete market has changed since 2018.
San Diego lost nonresidential masonry contractors between 2018 and 2023, from 25 business locations to 19 (down 24%), behind the 6% national decline. Headcount at those firms went down 36%, to about 208 people. Average annual pay there went from $57,605 to $69,168 (+20%), slower than the 23% national increase. The number of nonresidential concrete contractors in San Diego rose from 48 in 2018 to 49 in 2023, up 2%, behind the 11% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went down 28%, to about 913 people, so more firms are sharing fewer workers. Average annual pay there went from $65,037 to $76,255 (+17%), slower than the 25% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: business locations | 25 | 19 | −24% |
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: employment | 327 | 208 | −36% |
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: average annual pay | $57,605 | $69,168 | +20% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: business locations | 48 | 49 | +2% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: employment | 1,264 | 913 | −28% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: average annual pay | $65,037 | $76,255 | +17% |
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
San Diego runs 14% more masonry and concrete workers per job than the country as a whole — 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 San Diego's masonry and concrete market compares
In 2023 the San Diego metro had 49 nonresidential concrete contractors (counted by business location), with about 913 people on their payrolls. Average pay at those firms was $76,255, in line with the national average of $74,865 for the same kind of employer. Headcount fell 10.8% 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. That works out to 1.5 per 100,000 residents against 1.9 nationally. Fewer local employers means experienced people are easier to identify, but many work for firms based outside the metro. These firms account for 1.0% of all construction employment in the metro.
Among the 99 metros we cover with published BLS figures, San Diego ranks 17th for headcount, 10th for median pay and 35th for concentration for cement masons and concrete finishers. Pay here is among the highest we see, so offers need to start near the top of the range.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 7,810 | $63,790 | 0.94 | 65 |
| Riverside | 4,740 | $59,550 | 2.08 | 38 |
| Sacramento | 2,580 | $60,240 | 1.80 | 17 |
| San Francisco | 2,420 | $75,970 | 0.77 | 18 |
| San Diego | 2,330 | $66,530 | 1.14 | 19 |
| San Jose | 1,500 | $75,520 | 1.00 | 8 |
| Fresno | 980 | $57,620 | 1.54 | 8 |
| Stockton | 640 | $56,980 | 1.66 | 7 |
| Bakersfield | 600 | $58,670 | 1.35 | 3 |
| Modesto | 350 | $76,500 | 1.33 | 3 |
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 San Diego, 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, San Diego metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Masonry & Concrete licensing in California.
California licenses specialty contractors by classification, including C-2 Insulation and Acoustical, C-8 Concrete and C-29 Masonry. The same state rules apply in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and Modesto, so candidates licensed there can work in San Diego without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for San Diego talent.
The closest metro we cover is Riverside, about 85 miles away, with roughly 540 brickmasons and blockmasons (2.1 times San Diego's 260). Pay is close across the region: medians run from $55,580 in Las Vegas to $63,450 in Los Angeles, against $63,280 here. Los Angeles has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | – | 260 | $63,280 |
| Riverside | 87 mi | 540 | $63,330 |
| Los Angeles | 111 mi | 1,220 | $63,450 |
| Bakersfield | 212 mi | – | – |
| Las Vegas | 265 mi | 690 | $55,580 |
| Phoenix | 299 mi | 930 | $59,390 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for San Diego crews.
Not masonry & concrete work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into San Diego in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- San Diego International Airport New Terminal 1$3.8B total programPhase 1A open (Sept 2025); Phase 1B through 2028
Largest public works project in San Diego history. Phase 1A (19 gates, $2.6B) is already open; Phase 1B construction is underway to add 11 more gates by 2028. Airport-grade MEP, central utility plant, apron work. Multi-year demand for airport-experienced senior trades.
- UC San Diego campus + research expansion$2.5B+ programPhased through 2030
Ongoing university build-out - research labs, medical, student housing. High-spec lab/cleanroom MEP and institutional construction pipeline.
- Torrey Pines / Sorrento Valley life-sciences build-outs$2B+ rollingOngoing
The core of San Diego biotech. Lab and cleanroom fit-outs demand specialty MEP - clean process piping, lab exhaust, precise environmental controls.
Showing 3 of 6 projects tracked in this metro. The San Diego market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for masonry & concrete, and what kills offers in San Diego.
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 San Diego.
What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in San Diego?
BLS puts the San Diego median for brickmasons and blockmasons at $63,280 a year, about the same as the $62,120 national median. That ranks 46th of 91 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Experience carries a clear premium, $48,510 at the 10th percentile against $101,820 at the 90th - a 2.1x gap - so an offer at the median mostly reaches newer workers. Within California, San Francisco pays more, at $77,350.
Is it hard to hire brickmasons and blockmasons in San Diego?
Yes. San Diego has 50% fewer brickmasons and blockmasons per job than the country as a whole, roughly 260 in the metro, so most of the people worth hiring are already employed. The 19 nonresidential masonry contractors here average about 11 employees per location. There are 24% 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 San Diego?
Of the roles we recruit for, Project Manager pays the most in San Diego, a $133,210 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Concrete Pump Operator at $83,670, 37% below it. Precast Concrete Technician is the lowest-paid field role at $48,140. Relative to national pay, Concrete Pump Operator is the strongest-paying role here (40% above).
How many nonresidential masonry contractors operate in San Diego?
BLS counted 19 nonresidential masonry contractors in San Diego in 2023, employing about 208 people between them. Down from 25 in 2018, a 24% decline against 6% decline nationally. That averages 11 people per location. They pay about the national average of $68,219. BLS counted 49 nonresidential concrete contractors in San Diego in 2023, employing about 913 people between them. Up from 48 in 2018, a 2% increase against 11% growth nationally. That averages 19 people per location. They pay about the national average of $74,865.
Which nearby metros compete with San Diego for brickmasons and blockmasons?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Riverside (87 miles, about 540, $63,330 median), Los Angeles (111 miles, about 1,220, $63,450 median) and Las Vegas (265 miles, about 690, $55,580 median). Riverside has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. San Diego out-pays Las Vegas, an advantage when recruiting from there.
Thin market. Short list anyway.
With brickmasons and blockmasons this scarce in San Diego, an open seat rarely fills from a job posting. Let's line up the people before the next one opens.
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