Bricklayer Hourly Rate Calculator Australia

The average hourly rate for a professional licensed bricklayer in Australia typically ranges between $55 and $90 per hour plus GST. In major metropolitan centers like Sydney and Melbourne, experienced brickies doing complex feature brickwork or residential extensions can charge between $75 and $110 per hour. In regional areas, rates sit between $50 and $70 per hour.

To run a sustainable and profitable sole trader business, a self-employed bricklayer in Australia should aim to charge between $65 and $85 per hour plus GST. This rate is essential to cover non-billable time spent on preparation, mixing mortar, cleaning down tools, quoting, and materials pickup.

In Australia, bricklayers commonly charge between $800 and $1,500 per 1000 standard clay bricks laid. New housing estate contracts usually sit at $800 to $1,100, while custom architecturally designed homes, double-storey builds, or difficult-access sites cost between $1,200 and $1,600+ per 1000 bricks.

Yes, licensing is managed by state governments and mandatory for structural building work. In NSW, a contractor licence is required for work over $5,000. In QLD, work over $3,300 requires a licence from the QBCC, while in VIC, bricklayers must be registered with the VBA for domestic subcontracts exceeding $10,000.

Under Australian taxation law, if your bricklaying business generates a gross annual turnover of $75,000 or more, you must register for GST and add 10% to all invoices. If your turnover is below this threshold, GST registration is optional.

Yes, factoring travel into your rates is common practice. Since transporting a cement mixer, mortar boards, and heavy tools takes substantial setup and cleanup time on every job, many bricklayers charge a half-day minimum fee (typically $300 to $400) or a call-out surcharge.

Residential bricklaying typically commands a higher hourly rate ($60 to $85 per hour) due to bespoke designs, existing structures, and client relations. Commercial rates are often lower on an hourly basis ($55 to $75 per hour) but offer high-volume work on a single site.

$70 per hour plus GST is a solid, industry-standard baseline for a sole trader bricklayer in Australia. However, if you operate a commercial vehicle under finance, carry mixers and brick saws, and pay for safety scaffolding, you will need to charge $80 to $95 per hour to protect your margins.

Bricklayers working on new residential construction typically earn between $45 and $65 per hour or are paid a flat rate per 1000 bricks.

At a minimum, every self-employed bricklayer needs Public Liability Insurance ($5M to $10M cover limit). This protects against claims for accidental property damage or third-party injury. Consider tool insurance for mixers, saws, and generators.

A typical self-employed bricklayer has between 1,400 and 1,600 billable hours per year, accounting for annual leave, public holidays, sick days, and approximately 15% non-billable time (quoting, prep, mixer cleanup, driving).

Charging hourly is best for small repairs, repointing, or jobs with highly variable prep work. Charging per brick or a flat project rate is standard for large, predictable surfaces like new builds or retaining walls.

A basic starter kit costs between $1,500 and $3,000 (trowels, bolsters, spirit levels, brick lines, corner blocks, jointers, boards). Investing in a quality cement mixer ($1,500 to $3,000) and brick saw ($2,000 to $5,000) increases speed and margins.

Employing a bricklayer's labourer (hod carrier) typically costs between $25 and $35 per hour in Australia. Having a labourer mix mortar, carry bricks, and set up scaffold allows a skilled brickie to lay twice as many bricks per day.

Blocklaying (using Besser blocks) is physically heavier work. Blocklaying rates are slightly lower per unit ($0.80 to $2.00 per block) compared to bricklaying, but blocks cover more wall area per unit. Hourly rates remain similar ($55 to $80 per hour).