Bricklayer jobs in the UK pay well by trade standards in 2026, because housebuilders and contractors have been short of skilled bricklayers for years. The £25 to £30 an hour in the headline is real, but it is not the typical wage. It applies mainly to experienced, self-employed bricklayers working on price or day rate in London and the South East. Employed bricklayers on PAYE in most regions earn noticeably less.
Visa sponsorship is the harder part. Bricklaying is classed below graduate level, and since July 2025 the Skilled Worker visa has generally required graduate-level jobs. Sponsorship of a bricklayer is possible only while the occupation sits on one of the government’s temporary shortage lists, and only with a licensed employer paying a qualifying salary. This guide sets out the pay, the cards and qualifications you need, and the visa position as it stands.
How much do bricklayers earn in the UK?
Pay depends on region, experience and how you are engaged. The figures below are approximate ranges at the time of writing, based on typical advertised rates. Self-employed rates look higher because they include no holiday pay, sick pay or pension.
| Region | Employed (PAYE) hourly pay | Self-employed day rate |
|---|---|---|
| London | £19 to £24 | £220 to £280 |
| South East and East of England | £18 to £23 | £200 to £260 |
| South West | £17 to £21 | £180 to £230 |
| Midlands | £16 to £21 | £170 to £220 |
| North of England | £16 to £20 | £160 to £220 |
| Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland | £15 to £20 | £150 to £210 |
A full-time employed bricklayer typically earns about £32,000 to £45,000 a year. Apprentices and improvers earn less, and the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour from April 2026 is the legal floor for workers aged 21 and over.
Day rate, price work or PAYE: what is the difference?
PAYE employment
You are an employee. Tax and National Insurance are deducted from your wages, and you receive paid holiday, statutory sick pay and a workplace pension. This is the only arrangement that fits a sponsored visa, because a sponsor must employ and pay you directly.
Day rate
You are paid a fixed amount for each day worked, usually as a self-employed subcontractor. Bad weather, gaps between sites and holidays are unpaid.
Price work
You are paid per thousand bricks laid or per square metre of blockwork, often as part of a gang of two bricklayers and a labourer. Fast, accurate gangs on well-run housing sites reach the highest earnings, and this is where £25 to £30 an hour comes from. Earnings fall quickly when materials arrive late or scaffolding is not ready.
How does CIS self-employment work?
Most self-employed bricklayers are paid under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). The contractor deducts tax from each payment and sends it to HMRC.
- Registered subcontractors have 20 percent deducted; unregistered subcontractors lose 30 percent.
- You file a Self Assessment tax return each year and may receive a refund after allowable expenses such as tools, workwear and travel to temporary sites.
- You arrange your own public liability insurance, and should consider personal accident or income protection cover.
- You need a National Insurance number and a Unique Taxpayer Reference.
Self-employment is open only to people whose immigration status allows it. Skilled Worker visa holders must be employed by their sponsor, and student and visitor visas do not permit self-employment. An accountant who knows CIS is worth the fee in your first year. This article is general information and not tax or legal advice.
Which cards and qualifications do you need?
Almost every commercial and housebuilding site asks for a CSCS card as proof of training and qualification.
- NVQ Level 2 in Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying): the standard qualification, leading to the blue Skilled Worker CSCS card.
- NVQ Level 3: for advanced craft work and the gold card, useful for heritage work, complex facing brickwork and supervision.
- CITB Health, Safety and Environment test: must be passed before any CSCS card is issued.
- Experienced Worker route: if you trained abroad, an assessor can observe you on site and review evidence of your work, so you can gain the NVQ without repeating college.
Foreign trade certificates are not automatically accepted. UK ENIC can issue a statement comparing your qualification with UK levels, which helps with employers and with on-site assessment. You will also need to work from UK drawings, in metric units, and to standards such as the NHBC requirements for new homes.
Can bricklayers get UK visa sponsorship in 2026?
This is the position at the time of writing, and it is under review.
- Bricklaying is an RQF level 3 occupation, below the graduate-level standard introduced for new Skilled Worker sponsorship on 22 July 2025.
- Some construction trades were kept sponsorable for a limited time through the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List, which are scheduled to run to the end of 2026. Check on GOV.UK whether the bricklayers’ occupation code is listed on the day you apply.
- Even when an occupation is listed, the salary must meet the Skilled Worker threshold that applies to it. That figure is above many employed bricklaying wages outside London.
- New applicants sponsored in these below-graduate-level roles cannot bring dependants.
- English at B2 level has been required of new Skilled Worker applicants since January 2026.
In practice, few bricklaying employers hold a sponsor licence. Housebuilders rely on subcontract gangs, and subcontractors are usually small firms. The employers most likely to sponsor are larger brickwork contractors and main contractors with direct labour. Professional construction roles are a different story: site managers, quantity surveyors and civil engineers are graduate-level occupations, as our guide to construction jobs in Leeds explains.
Who can take bricklaying work without sponsorship?
You can work as a bricklayer, employed or sometimes self-employed, if you already hold a status with work rights:
- British and Irish citizens, and people with settled or pre-settled status
- Holders of indefinite leave to remain
- Partners on family visas and dependants of most work visa holders
- Graduate visa and Youth Mobility Scheme holders
- People with refugee status
Students can work limited hours in term time but cannot be self-employed. See our guide to jobs for international students in the UK for the rules.
How to apply: step by step
- Document your experience. Collect certificates, employer references with dates, and photographs of finished work such as facing brickwork, arches and corners.
- Check the current occupation lists. Look up the bricklayers’ code in the Skilled Worker occupation tables on GOV.UK and note the required salary.
- Target licensed employers. Search the Register of Licensed Sponsors for brickwork and construction companies, then check each firm’s official careers page.
- Pass an approved English test. Book a Secure English Language Test at B2 if you are not exempt.
- Secure a written offer and Certificate of Sponsorship. The contract should state PAYE employment, hours and salary.
- Apply for the visa. Pay the fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 a year, then attend your biometric appointment.
- Get site-ready on arrival. Book the CITB test, apply for the right CSCS card and start the NVQ assessment if you do not hold a UK qualification.
Costs to budget for
Besides visa fees, plan for the costs of starting work. Exact prices vary by provider.
- CITB test and CSCS card: a modest fee for each
- NVQ assessment through the experienced worker route: commonly several hundred pounds to over a thousand
- Hand tools, levels, lines and protective equipment
- Rental deposit and first month’s rent; see our guide to cheap UK housing for immigrants
- A van or travel costs, since sites are rarely near public transport
The Certificate of Sponsorship fee and Immigration Skills Charge are the employer’s responsibility and must not be deducted from your wages.
Staying safe during your search
Construction is a favourite target for false recruiters. Be careful with anyone who offers a “guaranteed UK bricklayer visa” or asks you to pay for a Certificate of Sponsorship. Genuine employers do not charge for job offers. Verify the company on the sponsor register and at Companies House, and take immigration advice only from an adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority or a regulated solicitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks a day is a UK bricklayer expected to lay?
On straightforward housing work, several hundred bricks a day is a common expectation, with quality checked against the specification. Detailed facing work, arches and corners are slower. Employers care about accuracy, clean joints and consistent gauge as much as speed.
Is bricklaying work available all year?
Work continues through the year, but frost, heavy rain and high winds stop bricklaying on some winter days. Employees are usually paid according to their contract, while self-employed bricklayers are not paid for lost days. Many plan their finances around a quieter period in mid-winter.
Can I start as a labourer or hod carrier and train up?
Yes, if you already have the right to work in the UK. Many bricklayers begin as labourers and move into an apprenticeship or on-site assessment. Labouring roles cannot be sponsored for a visa.
Do I need my own tools and transport?
Bricklayers normally supply their own hand tools, while the contractor provides mixers, scaffolding and materials. A driving licence is a strong advantage. Employers must provide or fund essential protective equipment for employees.
Are there openings for bricklayers in heritage and restoration work?
Yes. Conservation work on older buildings uses lime mortar and traditional bonds, and skilled workers are scarce. It usually requires additional training and pays well for those with proven experience.
Bottom line
UK bricklayers earn solid wages, and the best self-employed gangs in London and the South East do reach £25 to £30 an hour. Sponsorship is limited, temporary and dependent on the shortage lists, so check the current rules on GOV.UK before you spend money on any application. If you already have the right to work, a CSCS card and an NVQ are the fastest way onto site.