A bricklayer wanted to speak openly about what a construction worker can earn per day, ironically about what some charge, alluding to what often happens when clients protest about the high budgets they put into the works. The content creator Renova Former Pro has revealed this in one of the videos on his TikTok channel (@renovaformerpro) with his characteristic sarcastic and direct tone: “Today without mincing words I’m going to tell you how much a bricklayer charges. Do you know how much a bricklayer charges? He charges what he wants to charge.” This construction worker makes it so clear right at the beginning of the video, showing how difficult it is for bricklayers today to prepare their budgets, which is why fewer and fewer people want to dedicate themselves to working in construction.
The video mixes humor, irony and reality. In just over a minute, Renova dissects the different ways in which society perceives the work of a bricklayer. “Some charge for lunch. If it’s your brother-in-law, your friend, the friend’s friend… and with a paella everything is done. Others, however, have the habit of eating and they go and charge euros. Wow guys.” With that phrase, the creator puts his finger on the sore spot: the prejudices that still exist towards the construction trades, where many expect favorable prices or almost free work.
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“It depends on whether you have a van, pay for diesel or do everything in black”
The worker changes his ironic tone for more realistic reflections, in which he values everything that can influence the prices that a bricklayer sets in his budgets: “It will depend on whether he is self-employed, if he has a company, if he has a van, if he pays for diesel, if he is not self-employed, if he does everything in black, if he does not pay VAT, if he does not pay insurance or Social Security.”
With this list, he portrays the variety of situations that exist in the sector: from the salaried worker who is paid by agreement to the self-employed who assumes all the costs of materials, transportation and taxes.
This bricklayer does not talk about a salary or exact prices since, as he himself explains, it can depend on many factors “it will depend, but well, bricklayers have the habit of charging. What a lot of people, eh?” Even so, he mentions that there are those who charge between 100 and 160 euros a day, and that the most qualified or those who travel long distances can reach “up to 180 or 200 euros in a day.”
“There are some who want to make gold… and others who don’t charge anything”
Laughing, the video also reflects the diversity of prices and conditions within the construction sector. “Some want to make gold, my goodness, and charge a lot of money. And others don’t charge anything.” The exaggeration serves to highlight an obvious reality: the enormous difference between working legally or doing it “under the hood”, between being a professional with experience and means or an improvised tinkerer.
This bricklayer sums it up with a clear phrase: “If the officer is very good and a guy who is worth it because he leaves things messy, then he is also worth it. And if he is a guy who is unique, then he is unique, that’s what it is.” A clear way to remember that quality and professionalism also have a price.
From a lunch up to 200 euros a day
The video ends with a protesting message. “Well yes, they can charge whatever they want. From a lunch to 200 euros a day.” The phrase, which may seem exaggerated, contains a deep criticism: the problem is not in what is charged, but in the fact that it is still questioned whether manual trades charge for their work.
With the same informal tone with which he began, the worker launches a reflection that makes people talk: bricklayers do not do favors, they work, and their time, their knowledge and their effort should be valued like that of any other profession. “Wow, bricklayers… they have the habit of charging.” A phrase that, amidst laughter, has become a motto about labor dignity.