What Does it Take to Be a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher?
Job Description & Duties 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.
Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Responsibilities
- Build wooden molds, and clamp molds around area to be repaired, using hand tools.
- Chip, scrape, and grind high spots, ridges, and rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisels, power grinders, or hand tools.
- Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
- 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.
- Operate power vibrator to compact concrete.
- Wet concrete surface, and rub with stone to smooth surface and obtain specified finish.
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What Every Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Should Know
When polled, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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 Cutting Operator
- Cement Mason
- Joint Finisher
- Swimming Pool Installer
- Cement Mason Apprentice
Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 178,900 jobs in the United States for Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher. 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.
Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Salary
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers make between $28,780 and $75,220 a year.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers who work in Hawaii, New York, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers in different U.S. states.
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 |
What Tools & Technology do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers:
- Tradesman’s Software Master Estimator
How to Become a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
What kind of Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Work?

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers work in the following industries:

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