What You Need to Know About Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
Occupation Description Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.
Life As a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher: What Do They Do?
- Waterproof or restore concrete surfaces, using appropriate compounds.
- Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
- Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete or pattern or stamp the surface to provide a decorative finish.
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
- Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
- Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
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Qualities of a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Concrete Placement Equipment Operator
- Finisher
- Mason
- Concrete Grinder Operator
- Concrete Fence Builder
Are There Job Opportunities for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers?
There were about 178,900 jobs for Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 22,600 new jobs for Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher by 2026. There will be an estimated 22,400 positions for Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher per year.

The states with the most job growth for Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Louisiana, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
The salary for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers ranges between about $28,780 and $75,220 a year.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers who work in Hawaii, New York, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.
How much do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $38,020 |
Alaska | $66,890 |
Arizona | $41,750 |
Arkansas | $36,100 |
California | $56,890 |
Colorado | $44,790 |
Connecticut | $56,630 |
Delaware | $46,810 |
District of Columbia | $50,220 |
Florida | $36,690 |
Georgia | $39,180 |
Hawaii | $75,680 |
Idaho | $37,700 |
Illinois | $67,700 |
Indiana | $44,240 |
Iowa | $41,340 |
Kansas | $42,820 |
Kentucky | $40,140 |
Maine | $40,880 |
Maryland | $47,110 |
Massachusetts | $58,760 |
Michigan | $46,750 |
Minnesota | $52,460 |
Mississippi | $34,570 |
Missouri | $55,270 |
Montana | $44,780 |
Nebraska | $38,220 |
Nevada | $51,600 |
New Jersey | $60,410 |
New Mexico | $38,720 |
New York | $72,610 |
North Carolina | $38,380 |
North Dakota | $48,280 |
Ohio | $47,840 |
Oklahoma | $36,700 |
Oregon | $49,880 |
Pennsylvania | $49,360 |
Rhode Island | $44,070 |
South Carolina | $37,670 |
South Dakota | $37,380 |
Tennessee | $37,360 |
Texas | $36,760 |
Utah | $41,070 |
Vermont | $42,050 |
Virginia | $43,040 |
Washington | $61,090 |
West Virginia | $44,240 |
Wisconsin | $51,300 |
Wyoming | $41,800 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers may use on a daily basis:
- Tradesman’s Software Master Estimator
How to Become a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
Individuals working as a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher?

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: Margo Wright via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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