A blockmason works in construction, specializing in block structures. A blockmason’s job is very similar to that of a brickmason, but also very different in some of its aspects. While a brickmason can follow a more or less standard building scheme for most of their constructions and only need an initial overview of the building plans, a blockmason’s job requires much more careful pre-planning and coordination with the blueprints. It’s not unusual for blockmasons to go as far as to number each of the stones they’re using individually, for easier reference.
Becoming a blockmason is similar to the path taken by brickmason apprentices, as they undergo a series of training procedures on the job, after which they’re ready for actual field work. A blockmason will usually not need a higher degree of education than a high school diploma. Good ability to read blueprints and coordinate with architects is a must, as sometimes the design plans for certain structures can be complicated and require a lot of thinking and coordination in advance of the actual construction.
A blockmason’s compensation can vary with great deviations, with the lower-paid ones receiving around $30,000 a year, and the more successful blockmasons earning well over $50,000. The factors that affect the payment include the size of the project involved, the complexity of the job at hand and most importantly, the blockmason’s level of experience. Experienced blockmasons are usually valued highly and can receive annual compensations of over $60,000 in some rare cases.