Masonry & Concrete recruiters serving Washington, D.C..
Washington, D.C. has 80% more brickmasons and blockmasons per job than the country as a whole, about 1,910 in the metro. BLS counts 96 business locations of nonresidential masonry contractors across the metro. We recruit Masonry & Concrete talent in Washington, D.C. from a standing, credential-verified pipeline. 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 Washington, D.C..
BLS counts about 25,420 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Washington, D.C. metro, the largest group being carpenters (about 13,280). Relative to the size of the local economy, brickmasons and blockmasons are far more concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 1.80). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Masonry & Concrete hub.
Bricklayer / Mason
Washington, D.C.: 1,910 employed · $60,670 median, 52nd-highest of 91 metros
Concrete Finisher
Washington, D.C.: 2,810 employed · $58,350 median, 50th-highest of 111 metros
Concrete Form Setter / Carpenter
Washington, D.C.: 13,280 employed · $60,800 median, 41st-highest of 112 metros
Masonry Foreman
Washington, D.C.: 14,660 employed · $83,540 median, 30th-highest of 112 metros
Concrete Pump Operator
Washington, D.C.: 6,450 employed · $61,660 median, 52nd-highest of 112 metros
Estimator
Washington, D.C.: 3,780 employed · $89,330 median, 9th-highest of 111 metros
Project Manager
Washington, D.C.: 6,630 employed · $129,650 median, 15th-highest of 111 metros
Restoration Mason
Precast Concrete Technician
Washington, D.C.: 140 employed · $48,800 median, 24th-highest of 85 metros
Concrete Testing Technician
Washington, D.C.: 830 employed · $79,330 median, 16th-highest of 111 metros
What Masonry & Concrete roles earn in Washington, D.C..
Brickmasons and blockmasons in Washington, D.C. earn a median $60,670, level with the $62,120 national figure, and 52nd of 91 metros. Pay runs $45,760 at the tenth percentile to $75,120 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is civil engineering technologists and technicians, at $79,330 against $64,950 nationally.
| Role | Washington, D.C. median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bricklayer / Mason · Restoration MasonBrickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021) | $60,670 | $45,760–$75,120 | $62,120 | −2% | 1,910 |
| Concrete FinisherCement Masons and Concrete Finishers (47-2051) | $58,350 | $44,000–$77,410 | $57,020 | +2% | 2,810 |
| Concrete Form Setter / CarpenterCarpenters (47-2031) | $60,800 | $47,150–$90,590 | $60,580 | 0% | 13,280 |
| Masonry ForemanFirst-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011) | $83,540 | $60,720–$129,260 | $79,920 | +5% | 14,660 |
| Concrete Pump OperatorOperating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (47-2073) | $61,660 | $46,580–$84,180 | $59,850 | +3% | 6,450 |
| EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $89,330 | $53,890–$142,310 | $78,740 | +13% | 3,780 |
| Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $129,650 | $86,530–$207,160 | $114,990 | +13% | 6,630 |
| Precast Concrete TechnicianMolders, Shapers, and Casters (51-9195) | $48,800 | $39,740–$58,570 | $46,170 | +6% | 140 |
| Concrete Testing TechnicianCivil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (17-3022) | $79,330 | $51,020–$118,560 | $64,950 | +22% | 830 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C.'s masonry & concrete market has changed since 2018.
Washington, D.C. lost nonresidential masonry contractors between 2018 and 2023, from 106 business locations to 96 (down 9%), behind the 6% national decline. Headcount and pay for those firms are withheld in Washington, D.C., so the occupation figures above are the better guide to what hiring costs. The number of nonresidential concrete contractors in Washington, D.C. rose from 98 in 2018 to 107 in 2023, up 9%, close to the 11% national change. Headcount and pay for those firms are withheld in Washington, D.C., so the occupation figures above are the better guide to what hiring costs.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential masonry contractors: business locations | 106 | 96 | −9% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: business locations | 98 | 107 | +9% |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: employment | 3,591 | – | – |
| Nonresidential concrete contractors: average annual pay | $59,124 | – | – |
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
Washington, D.C. runs 33% 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 Washington, D.C.'s masonry and concrete market compares
In 2023 the Washington, D.C. metro had 107 nonresidential concrete contractors (counted by business location). BLS publishes that count but withholds headcount and pay here, which it does when a category is small enough that the figures could identify individual employers. That works out to 1.7 per 100,000 residents, close to the 1.9 national rate.
Among the 99 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Washington, D.C. ranks 10th for headcount, 46th for median pay and 69th for concentration for cement masons and concrete finishers.
What this means for hiring:For masonry and concrete employers in Washington, D.C., the headline number is misleading. About 2,810 cement masons and concrete finishers work here, one of the larger workforces we cover, but relative to the size of the local economy the trade is thinner than average, so every other employer is drawing on the same people. Expect to recruit people who are already employed, and to make the case for moving.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Washington, D.C. metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Masonry & Concrete licensing in District of Columbia.
The District requires a General Contractor and Construction Manager license from DLCP for anyone operating as a general contractor or construction manager, and there is no separate masonry or concrete trade license. Enforcement is real: working unlicensed is a Class 1 infraction with a minimum two thousand dollar fine, and licensed contractors are penalised for hiring unlicensed subcontractors as well. For a masonry or concrete subcontractor, confirm the firm holds a current DLCP license in its own name rather than relying on the prime contractor's license. The Washington, D.C. metro crosses a state line, so check the rules in the neighboring state too for crews that work on both sides.
Licensing authority: DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, General Contractor and Construction Manager basic business license. Confirm current rules with the agency.
We have not closed a masonry & concrete search in Washington, D.C. yet. Here is what we have closed.
These are other trades in the same market. We would rather show you the searches we have actually run in Washington, D.C. than imply a record in this trade that we do not have yet.
- Dispatcher / Service CoordinatorA coordinator used to 80-100 calls a day and 20-30 technicians, placed in twelve days.
- Commercial HVAC TechnicianRooftop units, VAV boxes, air handlers and water source heat pumps - covered in twelve days.
- IT TechnicianEarly-career IT talent with a fresh degree, placed into a technician seat with room to grow.
Nearby markets competing for Washington, D.C. talent.
The closest metro we cover is Baltimore, about 35 miles away, with roughly 580 brickmasons and blockmasons (0.3 times Washington, D.C.'s 1,910). Philadelphia pays the most nearby, a $75,970 median, 25% above Washington, D.C.. That is the number any Washington, D.C. offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. Washington, D.C. is the largest market for this work in the region, so nearby metros tend to recruit from here rather than the other way round.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | – | 1,910 | $60,670 |
| Baltimore | 36 mi | 580 | $58,000 |
| Lancaster | 88 mi | 350 | $63,430 |
| Richmond | 95 mi | 430 | $51,800 |
| Harrisburg | 96 mi | 80 | $72,730 |
| Philadelphia | 124 mi | 1,210 | $75,970 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for Washington, D.C. crews.
Not masonry & concrete work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into Washington, D.C. in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- Southwest Waterfront / The Wharf (Bridge District)$1.5B plannedThrough 2030
Mixed-use waterfront redevelopment - a distinct, smaller-scope project from the separate ~$3.3B Navy Yard proper build-out and the full 30-year, ~$10B Anacostia Waterfront Initiative; each of those three figures applies to a different geographic scope, not one combined project.
- Northern VA data center expansion (Loudoun + Prince William)$10B+ rollingOngoing through 2030
Northern Virginia is the largest US data center market by far. Adjacent to DC MSA boundary but pulls trades from the entire Capital region.
- WMATA Metro infrastructure renewal$3B+Rolling
Station upgrades, signal modernization, tunnel work. Specialty transit MEP.
Showing 3 of 6 projects tracked in this metro. The Washington, D.C. market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for masonry & concrete, and what kills offers in Washington, D.C..
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 Washington, D.C..
What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Washington, D.C.?
BLS puts the Washington, D.C. median for brickmasons and blockmasons at $60,670 a year, about the same as the $62,120 national median. That ranks 52nd of 91 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Pay is bunched together here, $45,760 to $75,120 across the 10th to 90th percentile and only a 1.6x gap, so small differences in an offer are noticed.
Is it hard to hire brickmasons and blockmasons in Washington, D.C.?
Not by national standards. Brickmasons and blockmasons make up 80% more of the Washington, D.C. workforce than they do nationally, about 1,910 people.
Which masonry & concrete roles pay the most in Washington, D.C.?
Of the roles we recruit for, Project Manager pays the most in Washington, D.C., a $129,650 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Concrete Testing Technician at $79,330, 39% below it. Precast Concrete Technician is the lowest-paid field role at $48,800. Relative to national pay, Concrete Testing Technician is the strongest-paying role here (22% above).
How many nonresidential masonry contractors operate in Washington, D.C.?
BLS counted 96 nonresidential masonry contractors in Washington, D.C. in 2023. Down from 106 in 2018, a 9% decline against 6% decline nationally. BLS withholds their combined headcount and pay here, which it does when a category is small enough that the figures could identify individual employers. BLS counted 107 nonresidential concrete contractors in Washington, D.C. in 2023. Up from 98 in 2018, a 9% increase against 11% growth nationally. BLS withholds their combined headcount and pay here, which it does when a category is small enough that the figures could identify individual employers.
Which nearby metros compete with Washington, D.C. for brickmasons and blockmasons?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Baltimore (36 miles, about 580, $58,000 median), Lancaster (88 miles, about 350, $63,430 median) and Richmond (95 miles, about 430, $51,800 median). Washington, D.C. out-pays Richmond, an advantage when recruiting from there.
Plenty of people. Few of them looking.
Washington, D.C. 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.
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