Masons have unique opportunities that many other industries just don’t offer today. For instance, you can start by learning through an apprenticeship, which allows you to build skills on the job while earning a paycheck. Masons also spend their days working outside, contributing to the creation of the very structures that shape our community’s skyline. In twenty years, you’ll be able to drive past a building and proudly say that you had a part in creating it.

Today, the need for skilled masons is high in Central Florida. Development is growing rapidly, and this trade is both in short supply and in high demand. This means there are excellent opportunities for those ready to step into the field. A career in masonry also provides strong earning potential and job stability.

Masonry is a construction method. It is the craft of building by laying stone, brick, or concrete units in a systemic pattern, and then binding them together with mortar to create the designed structure. Brick and concrete are two of the most commonly used materials in masonry today, though stone is still an important part of the trade. Concrete work also involves pouring and finishing a mixture of cement, sand, aggregate, and water into forms. These will be slabs, walls, or other structures. This is one of the most respected construction methods today because of its durability, resilience, and fire resistance.

Masons are tradespeople who rely on their physical strength and skill. They build and construct the foundations and walls that make up the structures we use everyday. Common structures built by masons include:

• Schools, offices, and community centers
• Retail buildings and shopping centers
• Parking garages
• Industrial facilities and warehouses
• Hospitals and healthcare centers
• Government and municipal buildings

Many of these sectors rely on quality masonry because of its ability to provide lasting strength and safety, along with functionality.

When you start a career in masonry, you will likely begin as a tender. Tenders are essential support crew on every single job site. They mix mortar, stage materials, and keep the site clean and organized so that masons can focus on laying the brick, block, or stone. It is a demanding role that builds stamina, efficiency, and gives you a strong foundation to move up in the trade.

The next step is becoming a mason. Masons are the builders who read plans, measure and cut units, and lay them precisely. They must perform work that meets exacting standards for strength and appearance. As a mason, you’ll develop the technical skill that makes this trade so rewarding.

With time and experience, you can grow into a foreman, the boss! As the leader of the crew, this is a position that combines experience and trade knowledge with leadership and problem-solving. Foremen lead their crews on the job site, supervise work activities, interpret the day’s plans and specifications, coordinate manpower, and mentor the masons and tenders. They also enforce OSHA safety standards and policies to keep each job site safe. Ultimately, this is where many apprentices aspire to go.

The best way to begin a career in masonry is through a masonry apprenticeship. These programs are available at no cost to students. To be eligible, you must be employed full-time by a participating employer, which includes our team at WaveCrest.

The “earn-while-you-learn” approach provides a chance to develop real-world experience on active job sites, learn directly from our experienced masons, and develop the skills needed to succeed in a career that offers both security and growth.