What Does it Take to Be 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
- 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.
- Cut metal division strips, and press them into terrazzo base so that top edges form desired design or pattern.
- Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
- Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
- Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
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Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Needed Skills
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.
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.
Types of Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
- Joint Finisher
- Mason
- Concrete Floor Installer
- Concrete Polisher
- Concrete Smoother
Is There Going to be Demand for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers?
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.
How Much Does a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher Make?
The typical yearly salary for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers is somewhere between $28,780 and $75,220.

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?
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 do I Become a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher?
Learn what Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher education requirements there are.

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

Where do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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