BRICKLAYER

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chicago is seeking a skilled bricklayer to join its public works team in Chicago. The role involves planning and performing masonry tasks on a variety of construction and repair projects, including walls, floors, basins, and sewer appurtenances.

The candidate must understand blueprints, orders, and instructions, and work with mortar, bricks, and concrete blocks to ensure quality results. Applicants should have a bricklayer apprenticeship or journeyman status, with options for

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a US Department of Labor registered bricklayer apprenticeship training program and journeyman status.
• Alternative: apprenticeship plus two years journey-level experience as a Bricklayer.
• Five years of experience as a Bricklayer.

Responsibilities

• Reviews blueprints, work orders, and written instructions to plan work and order tools and materials.
• Uses bricks, tile, and concrete blocks to build or repair walls, floors, appurtenances, and related masonry structures.
• Builds and restores catch basins, gutter boxes, manholes, and other appurtenances using brick, concrete block, and tile.
• Spreads mortar to serve as base for laying bricks.
• Applies mortar to brick and positions brick in mortar base.
• Lays brick, rebuilds manholes and basins, and connects drain pipes and catch basins to main sewer lines and seals connections.
• Repairs and replaces outlets and inlet pipes to facilitate water drainage.
• Levels, aligns, and embeds brick using trowels, levels, air hammers, and related tools.
• Builds templates and marks guidelines for the proper positioning of bricks.
• Cites that the position may include other duties as required.

Skills

Blueprint reading

Physical stamina

Supervisory skills

Education

Bricklayer apprenticeship

Journeyman bricklayer

Tools

Masonry tools

Job description

Under supervision, lays bricks, concrete blocks, sewer pipes, and tiles for a variety of construction
and repair projects, and performs related duties as required .

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Reviews blueprints, work orders, and written instructions in order to plan work, assess extent of
  repairs and order tools and materials for construction or repair projects
• Uses bricks, tile, and concrete blocks to build or repair walls, floors, appurtenances, and related
  masonry structures
• Builds and restores catch basins, gutter boxes, manholes, and other appurtenances using brick,
  concrete block, and tile
• Spreads mortar to serve as base for laying bricks
• Applies mortar to brick and positions brick in mortar base
• Lays brick, rebuilds manholes and basins, and connects drain pipes and catch basins to main
  sewer lines and seals connections
• Repairs and replaces outlets and inlet pipes to facilitate water drainage
• Levels, aligns, and embeds brick using trowels, levels, air hammers, and related tools
• Builds templates and marks guidelines for the proper positioning of bricks
• Cuts brick to size
• Directs assigned crew members in the excavation of street surfaces to locate broken or
  deteriorated sewer masonry
• Instructs and directs laborers in the loading and unloading of trucks, the mixing of mortar,
  backfilling of excavated work sites to restore streets, and/or the setting up of scaffolding on the
  job site
• Maintains project time and material records and prepares related reports
• Ensures safety regulations and procedures at work sites are being followed

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: Varies

Days: Varies

Hours: Varies

Qualifications

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and Experience

• Successful completion of a US Department of Labor registered bricklayer apprenticeship training program and journeyman status
• Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable:
• Successful completion of an industry or company sponsored apprenticeship training program as a Bricklayer, plus two (2) years of journey level experience as a Bricklayer or
• Five (5) years of experience as a Bricklayer

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Substantial lifting (up to 50 pounds) is required
• Ability to walk and stand for extended or continuous periods of time
• Ability to quickly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with one's body, arms, and/or legs
• Ability to climb staircases, ladders, and/or step stools
• Ability to access difficult to enter spaces (e.g., roofs, basements, tanks, field equipment, crampedquarters)
• Ability to operate applicable hand tools, power tools, and equipment
• Ability to tolerate heights while working

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Exposure to loud noise, fumes or dust
• Exposure to hazardous conditions (e.g., construction sites, heavy machinery)
• Work performed in cramped or confined locations
• Work performed above or below ground level
• Work performed using scaffolds and ladders

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires candidates to pass a job knowledge exam. Test results will be sent out by the Department of Human Resources after test results have been analyzed and compiled. Bidders who receive a passing score on the test will be hired in seniority order. External applicants who receive a passing score will be hired in lottery/random order.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION: Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request, adequate information regarding your educational and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. You must include job titles, dates of employment and specific job duties. If you received your degree internationally, all international transcripts/diplomas must be accompanied by a Foreign Credential Evaluation. You must provide your transcripts or diploma, professional license, or training certificates at the time of processing, if applicable. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn, and you will not be hired.

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration.

These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Job Posting

Aug 27, 2026, 5:00:00 AM | Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External : Sep 11, 2026, 4:59:00 AM