Life As a 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.

A Day in the Life of a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher

• Fabricate concrete beams, columns, and panels.
• Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
• Clean chipped area, using wire brush, and feel and observe surface to determine if it is rough or uneven.
• Cut metal division strips, and press them into terrazzo base so that top edges form desired design or pattern.
• Operate power vibrator to compact concrete.
• Spread roofing paper on surface of foundation, and spread concrete onto roofing paper with trowel to form terrazzo base.

Things a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Should Know How to Do

These are the skills Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers say are the most useful in their careers:

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Types of Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Jobs

• Concrete Mason
• Cementer
• Concrete Floor Installer
• Concrete Cutting Operator
• Concrete Swimming Pool Installer

Job Outlook for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

There were about 178,900 jobs for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 22,500 new jobs for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers by 2026. The BLS estimates 22,400 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers are Texas, California, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Salary

The average yearly salary of a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher ranges between $28,780 and $75,220. A Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher median salary is $43,000.

How much do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Hawaii	$75,680
New York	$72,610
Illinois	$67,700
Alaska	$66,890
Washington	$61,090
New Jersey	$60,410
Massachusetts	$58,760
California	$56,890
Connecticut	$56,630
Missouri	$55,270
Minnesota	$52,460
Nevada	$51,600
Wisconsin	$51,300
District of Columbia	$50,220
Oregon	$49,880
Pennsylvania	$49,360
North Dakota	$48,280
Ohio	$47,840
Maryland	$47,110
Delaware	$46,810
Michigan	$46,750
Colorado	$44,790
Montana	$44,780
West Virginia	$44,240
Indiana	$44,240
Rhode Island	$44,070
Virginia	$43,040
Kansas	$42,820
Vermont	$42,050
Wyoming	$41,800
Arizona	$41,750
Iowa	$41,340
Utah	$41,070
Maine	$40,880
Kentucky	$40,140
Georgia	$39,180
New Mexico	$38,720
North Carolina	$38,380
Nebraska	$38,220
Alabama	$38,020
Idaho	$37,700
South Carolina	$37,670
South Dakota	$37,380
Tennessee	$37,360
Texas	$36,760
Oklahoma	$36,700
Florida	$36,690
Arkansas	$36,100
Mississippi	$34,570

How to Become a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher

Individuals working as Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher?

Where Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Work

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons