Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
SOC: 47-3011.00 · Job Zone: 2
Key Takeaways
- ●AI Impact Score: 28/100 — AI-Augmented, Human-Led. This role is relatively AI-resistant due to physical or interpersonal requirements.
- ●16K workers currently employed.
- ●Mean annual wage: $46,480.
- ●0 of 15 key tasks can already be performed by AI tools today.
What Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters Do
Help brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, or tile and marble setters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Also known as
Common HR-system job titles that map to this O*NET occupation (47-3011.00). Use these terms in resumes, postings, and org charts to match this AI-replaceability profile.
Have a job title that doesn't appear here? Upload your org chart to score your full headcount against AI replaceability.
AI Impact Analysis
Helpers in masonry trades represent a workforce of 15,660 professionals earning an average of $46,480 annually, serving as critical support for skilled craftspeople in construction. These entry-level positions require minimal formal education but demand physical capability, basic technical understanding, and coordination skills essential for construction site efficiency.
AI automation is beginning to impact specific administrative and planning tasks within this occupation. Microsoft Copilot and GPT-4 are streamlining material calculation and inventory management, while construction management platforms like ProEst integrate AI to optimize material ordering and supply chain coordination. UiPath's robotic process automation handles routine documentation and scheduling tasks that helpers traditionally managed manually. Computer vision systems powered by OpenCV are being deployed for quality inspection of tile alignment and grout consistency, reducing the manual monitoring workload.
The core physical tasks remain fundamentally human-essential due to the unpredictable, tactile nature of construction work. Moving materials, mixing mortar, operating hand tools, and providing real-time assistance to skilled masons requires spatial awareness, physical dexterity, and adaptive problem-solving that current robotics cannot replicate cost-effectively. The construction environment's variability, safety requirements, and need for immediate human judgment in material handling make full automation economically unfeasible.
Over the next 1-3 years, AI will primarily augment administrative functions and basic planning tasks, with smart inventory systems and automated scheduling becoming standard. In 3-5 years, expect enhanced job site coordination through AI-powered logistics platforms and improved safety monitoring through wearable sensors. However, the physical labor component will remain largely unchanged, with humans continuing to dominate material handling, tool operation, and direct craft assistance.
Construction companies like Turner Construction and Skanska are already implementing AI-driven project management systems that reduce administrative overhead for helper positions. Caterpillar and John Deere are developing AI-enhanced construction equipment that simplifies operation but still requires human operators. These early implementations focus on efficiency gains rather than workforce replacement, consistent with the industry's practical approach to technology adoption.
Task-by-Task AI Analysis
| Task | AI Status |
|---|---|
Mix mortar, plaster, and grout, manually or using machines, according to standard formulas AI can optimize mixing ratios and timing, but physical mixing and quality assessment require human oversight | AI Assists 1-2 years |
Erect scaffolding or other installation structures Requires complex spatial reasoning, safety judgment, and physical manipulation in unpredictable environments | Human Essential 5+ years |
Cut materials to specified sizes for installation, using power saws or tile cutters AI can guide cutting measurements and optimize material usage, but physical operation requires human control | AI Assists 3-5 years |
Transport materials, tools, or machines to installation sites, manually or using conveyance equipment Some automated transport possible, but complex job sites require human navigation and decision-making | AI Assists 3-5 years |
Locate and supply materials to masons for installation, following drawings or numbered sequences AR systems can provide visual guidance, but physical material handling and real-time coordination remain human tasks | AI Assists 1-2 years |
Arrange or store materials, machines, tools, or equipment AI can optimize storage layouts and inventory tracking, but physical arrangement requires human judgment | AI Assists Now |
Clean installation surfaces, equipment, tools, work sites, or storage areas Some automated cleaning possible, but construction sites require adaptive cleaning approaches | AI Assists 3-5 years |
Move or position materials such as marble slabs, using cranes, hoists, or dollies Requires precise spatial coordination, safety assessment, and real-time adjustments for valuable materials | Human Essential 5+ years |
Remove excess grout or residue from tile or brick joints, using sponges or trowels Requires tactile feedback, visual assessment, and delicate manual control for quality finishing | Human Essential 5+ years |
Apply grout between joints of bricks or tiles, using grouting trowels Demands precise hand-eye coordination and real-time quality assessment for aesthetic and structural integrity | Human Essential 5+ years |
Apply caulk, sealants, or other agents to installed surfaces AI can control dispensing rates and patterns, but surface preparation and finishing require human skill | AI Assists 3-5 years |
Remove damaged tile, brick, or mortar, and clean or prepare surfaces Requires damage assessment, selective removal techniques, and preservation of surrounding materials | Human Essential 5+ years |
Correct surface imperfections or fill chipped, cracked, or broken bricks or tiles Demands artistic judgment, color matching, and precise manual repair techniques | Human Essential 5+ years |
Modify material moving, mixing, grouting, grinding, polishing, or cleaning procedures AI can suggest procedure optimizations, but implementation requires human adaptation and safety oversight | AI Assists 1-2 years |
Provide assistance in the preparation, installation, repair, or rebuilding of tile, brick, or stone surfaces Requires real-time coordination with skilled craftspeople and adaptive problem-solving | Human Essential 5+ years |
AI Tools Disrupting Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
Key Skills
Key Tasks
- •Mix mortar, plaster, and grout, manually or using machines, according to standard formulas.
- •Erect scaffolding or other installation structures.
- •Cut materials to specified sizes for installation, using power saws or tile cutters.
- •Modify material moving, mixing, grouting, grinding, polishing, or cleaning procedures, according to installation or material requirements.
- •Transport materials, tools, or machines to installation sites, manually or using conveyance equipment.
- •Provide assistance in the preparation, installation, repair, or rebuilding of tile, brick, or stone surfaces.
- •Locate and supply materials to masons for installation, following drawings or numbered sequences.
- •Arrange or store materials, machines, tools, or equipment.
- •Clean installation surfaces, equipment, tools, work sites, or storage areas, using water, chemical solutions, oxygen lances, or polishing machines.
- •Move or position materials such as marble slabs, using cranes, hoists, or dollies.
- •Remove excess grout or residue from tile or brick joints, using sponges or trowels.
- •Apply grout between joints of bricks or tiles, using grouting trowels.
Technology Skills Used
Hot + In Demand Hot Technology In Demand ↗ = View AI replaceability analysis
Salary Range
Career Transition Guidance
Helpers in masonry trades have clear advancement pathways within construction, with the most direct progression being to become Brickmasons and Blockmasons (47-2021.00) or Tile and Stone Setters (47-2044.00). These transitions leverage existing knowledge of materials, tools, and construction processes while requiring 2-4 years of additional apprenticeship training to develop advanced craft skills. The coordination, time management, and critical thinking abilities developed as a helper transfer directly to these skilled positions.
Alternative career paths include transitioning to other helper roles like Helpers--Carpenters (47-3012.00) or Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-3015.00), which require similar physical capabilities and construction site experience. For those interested in moving beyond manual labor, the familiarity with construction software and project coordination can support transitions into construction management or building inspection roles with additional certification training.
To prepare for career advancement, focus on developing technical skills with construction software like Autodesk Revit and project management platforms, while pursuing safety certifications and specialized training in emerging construction technologies. The timeline for advancement typically ranges from 1-3 years for lateral helper positions to 3-5 years for skilled craft positions, depending on apprenticeship availability and individual commitment to skill development.
Related Occupations
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters?
No, AI will not replace these workers in the foreseeable future. With an AI impact score of only 28/100, this occupation faces low automation risk. The physical nature of construction work, need for real-time coordination, and unpredictable job site conditions make full replacement unlikely within 10+ years.
What AI tools are used in Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters roles?
Current AI tools include Autodesk Revit for design visualization, Microsoft Office suite with AI integration for project coordination, and construction management platforms like ProEst. Emerging tools include computer vision systems for quality inspection and automated inventory management systems.
What is the salary outlook for Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters with AI?
The mean annual wage of $46,480 is likely to remain stable or increase slightly as AI augmentation improves productivity without reducing workforce demand. The 15,660 workers in this field will benefit from enhanced efficiency tools rather than face displacement.
What skills should Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters develop for the AI era?
Focus on developing critical thinking, coordination, and problem-solving skills that AI cannot replicate. Technical literacy with construction software, safety protocol expertise, and advanced material handling techniques will become increasingly valuable as AI handles routine administrative tasks.
How many Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters jobs are there in the US?
There are currently 15,660 helpers employed in masonry trades across the United States. Job growth projections are not available, but the essential nature of construction support work suggests stable demand despite AI integration.