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Concrete Finishing

Types of Degrees Concrete Finishing Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Concrete Finishing have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	52
Associate’s Degree	6
Master’s Degree	12

What Concrete Finishing Majors Need to Know

Programs in Concrete Finishing build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Concrete Finishing graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Concrete Finishing emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Building and Construction — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Concrete Finishing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Coordination — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Management of Personnel Resources — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Concrete Finishing careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Information Ordering — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Concrete Finishing graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others	4.0 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.9 / 7
Scheduling Work and Activities	3.9 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Concrete Finishing professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Inventory tracking software	Inventory management software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Oracle Primavera Systems	Project management software	—
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management	Project management software	—
Prolog	Development environment software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Procore software	Analytical or scientific software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Concrete Finishing graduates include:

• Steel Post Installer Supervisor
• Stonemason Supervisor
• Steel Work Supervisor
• Mine Captain
• Sign Builder Supervisor
• Marble Installer Supervisor
• Construction Foreman
• Commercial Construction Superintendent
• Water Softener Service Supervisor
• Foreman
• Electrical Supervisor
• Core Drilling Supervisor
• Crew Foreman
• Oil Well Services Supervisor
• Painter Supervisor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Concrete Finishing graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	34.2%
Less than a high school diploma	23.3%
Postsecondary certificate	16.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	9.9%
Some college courses	8.0%
Bachelor’s degree	8.0%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Concrete Finishing?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 90% of Concrete Finishing degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	7	10.0%
Men	63	90.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Concrete Finishing graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	15	21.4%
Hispanic or Latino	8	11.4%
Black or African American	44	62.9%
Two or More Races	3	4.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Concrete Finishing Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Concrete Finishing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$33,822
4 years	$32,489
5 years	$37,102

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $37,102 — roughly 10% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Concrete Finishing Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Concrete Finishing graduates earn a median of $32,489 four years after completion — about 15% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection	46.04
Building Construction Technology/Technician	46.0415
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection, Other	46.0499
Building/Construction Site Management/Manager	46.0412
Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector	46.0403
Building/Property Maintenance	46.0401
Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker	46.0413
Drywall Installation/Drywaller	46.0404
Glazier	46.0406
Insulator	46.0414
Metal Building Assembly/Assembler	46.0411
Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer	46.0408

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.