Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn a median of $57,020 per year ($27.41/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.6% through 2035, with about 13,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 47-2051
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $57,020a year, or $27.41/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $85K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.6%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 13,600204,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025204.8K
- Projected 2035208.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 204.8K Projected 2035 208.1K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school51.7%
- High school35%
- Certificate12.7%
- Associate's0.6%
Highest education held by cement masons and concrete finishers Segment Value Less than high school 51.7% High school 35% Certificate 12.7% Associate's 0.6%
Also advertised as: Cement Finisher, Cement Mason, Concrete Finisher, Concrete Mason, Finisher, Mason.
Pay
How much do cement masons and concrete finishers make?
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn a median of $57,020 a year ($27.41 an hour, or about $4,750 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $39,190 and the top 10% more than $85,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Hawaii, with a median of $95,890. See Cement mason and concrete finisher salary in Hawaii and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Fairbanks ($103,690 average): salary in every city.
Every cement mason and concrete finisher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$57,020
Middle half earn $47,010 to $66,870
- 10th
- $39,190
- 25th
- $47,010
- 75th
- $66,870
- 90th
- $85,480
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,190 |
| 25th | $47,010 |
| Median | $57,020 |
| 75th | $66,870 |
| 90th | $85,480 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $57,020
- Median hourly wage
- $27.41/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $60,050
- People employed
- 206,170
Versus all US occupations
At $57,020, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn 12% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,040 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 5% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $85,480 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,190, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 29% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($95,890), but once local prices are taken into account Alaska leads at $90,818 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay cement masons and concrete finishers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $95,890 | $87,212 | 650 |
| 2Alaska | $92,960 | $90,818 | 240 |
| 3Illinois | $78,170 | $78,203 | 5,890 |
| 4Washington | $77,520 | $72,440 | 4,440 |
| 5Oregon | $68,530 | $66,302 | 2,170 |
| 6Minnesota | $66,830 | $67,764 | 3,070 |
| 7Wisconsin | $64,250 | $68,282 | 4,490 |
| 8New York | $64,040 | $59,340 | 9,060 |
| 9Massachusetts | $63,840 | $60,365 | 1,590 |
| 10Ohio | $62,990 | $67,896 | 6,060 |
Job outlook
Is cement mason and concrete finisher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | +1.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers to change 1.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 13,600 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 204,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of masonry workers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 18,400 openings for masonry workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of masonry workers varies by occupation (see table).
AI exposure: low
BLS places this occupation in its low relative AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a cement mason and concrete finisher
Masons typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the trade either through an apprenticeship or on the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as cement masons and concrete finishers.
- Less than a High School Diploma51.7%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)35%
- Post-Secondary Certificate12.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 51.7% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 35% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 12.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a cement mason and concrete finisher do?
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.
Masonry workers, also known as masons, use bricks, concrete and concrete blocks, and natural and manmade stones to build walkways, walls, and other structures.
Day-to-day tasks
- Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
- Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
- Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
- Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
- Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
- Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth, using trowel.
- Chip, scrape, and grind high spots, ridges, and rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisels, power grinders, or hand tools.
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most masons work full time, and some work overtime to meet construction deadlines. Masons work mostly outdoors, so inclement weather may affect their schedules. Terrazzo masons may need to work hours that differ from a regular business schedule, to avoid disrupting normal operations.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.3
- Speaking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Mathematics2.6
- Reading Comprehension2.4
- Learning Strategies2.4
- Active Learning2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Operation and Control2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Social Perceptiveness2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a cement mason and concrete finisher?
Women make up 0.0% of cement masons and concrete finishers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
Only 11.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce, with 19.6% under 25.
The median worker is 39.2 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 0.0%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 39.2All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 11.8%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 51,000Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of cement masons and concrete finishers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 0.0% | 47.1% |
| White | 93.0% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 2.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 63.2% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 11.8% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 19.6% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a cement mason and concrete finisher?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.3
- Investigative2.3
- Artistic1.7
- Social1.0
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Brickmason, Blockmason, Stonemason, and Tile and Marble Setter
$47,550median a year
Most earn $36K to $70K
−11.7%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with cement masons and concrete finishers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$57,020
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher | $57,020 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher appears on
Questions
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher: frequently asked questions
How much do cement masons and concrete finishers make?
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn a median of $57,020 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 12% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $27.41/hr. The middle half earn between $47,010 and $66,870. The top 10% earn $85,480 or more.
How much do cement masons and concrete finishers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for cement masons and concrete finishers is $27.41 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $57,020 annual median works out to about $4,750 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a cement mason and concrete finisher?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of cement masons and concrete finishers earn less than $39,190 a year and the bottom quarter less than $47,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do cement masons and concrete finishers make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $85,480, so fewer than 10% of cement masons and concrete finishers earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is Hawaii at $95,890.
Which states pay cement masons and concrete finishers the most?
The highest state medians for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers are Hawaii ($95,890), Alaska ($92,960), Illinois ($78,170) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Alaska moves to the top at $90,818.
What kind of cement mason and concrete finisher earns the most?
BLS does not split cement masons and concrete finishers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $85,480, against a median of $57,020 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Hawaii ($95,890), Alaska ($92,960), Illinois ($78,170).
Do you need a degree to become a cement mason and concrete finisher?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 51.7% hold less than a high school diploma.
How long does it take to become a cement mason and concrete finisher?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for cement masons and concrete finishers is no formal educational credential. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is cement mason and concrete finisher a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.6% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 13,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a cement mason and concrete finisher do?
Masonry workers, also known as masons, use bricks, concrete and concrete blocks, and natural and manmade stones to build walkways, walls, and other structures. A core O*NET task: check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
Do cement masons and concrete finishers work 40 hours a week?
Most work fewer than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 0% of cement masons and concrete finishers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 26% work exactly 40 and 26% work fewer. 22% say their schedule is regular and 78% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a cement mason and concrete finisher?
O*NET scores Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of cement masons and concrete finishers are women?
Women make up 0.0% of cement masons and concrete finishers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. Only 11.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce, with 19.6% under 25. The median worker is 39.2 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers".