The median pay for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers is $76,170 a year ($36.62/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 13.0% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-2053
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Terrazzo Worker and Finisher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $76,170a year, or $36.62/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $46KTop 10% $126K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -13.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−13%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −13% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1001,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.2K
- Projected 20351K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.2K Projected 2035 1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school14.2%
- High school69.9%
- Certificate9.6%
- Some college6.4%
Highest education held by terrazzo workers and finishers Segment Value Less than high school 14.2% High school 69.9% Certificate 9.6% Some college 6.4%
Also advertised as: Grinder, Installer, Terrazzo Finisher, Terrazzo Grinder, Terrazzo Installer, Terrazzo Journeyman.
Pay
How much do Terrazzo Workers and Finishers make?
Every terrazzo worker and finisher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$76,170
Middle half earn $54,830 to $114,780
- 10th
- $46,090
- 25th
- $54,830
- 75th
- $114,780
- 90th
- $126,130
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $46,090 |
| 25th | $54,830 |
| Median | $76,170 |
| 75th | $114,780 |
| 90th | $126,130 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $76,170
- Median hourly wage
- $36.62/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $84,920
- People employed
- 1,180
Versus all US occupations
At $76,170, Terrazzo Workers and Finishers earn 49% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $25,190 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 27% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $126,130 or more while the bottom 10% earn $46,090, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 51% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $123,820, and still leads at $114,732 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Terrazzo Workers and 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $123,820 | $114,732 | N/A |
| 2Illinois | $107,190 | $107,235 | N/A |
| 3Michigan | $72,450 | $75,299 | N/A |
| 4Wisconsin | $57,930 | $61,565 | N/A |
| 5New Jersey | $57,550 | $52,893 | 100 |
| 6Florida | $49,500 | $47,866 | N/A |
| 7California | $41,430 | $37,419 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Terrazzo Worker and Finisher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -13.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Terrazzo Workers and Finishers | −13% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Terrazzo Workers and Finishers to change -13.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 8.3% of the 1,200 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).
Getting in
How to become a Terrazzo Worker and 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
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Apprenticeship
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no 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 terrazzo workers and finishers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)69.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma14.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate9.6%
- Some College Courses6.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 69.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 14.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 9.6% |
| Some College Courses | 6.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Terrazzo Worker and Finisher do?
Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.
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
- Measure designated amounts of ingredients for terrazzo or grout, according to standard formulas and specifications, using graduated containers and scales, and load ingredients into portable mixer.
- Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth with a trowel.
- Cut metal division strips and press them into the terrazzo base for joints or changes of color to form designs or patterns or to help prevent cracks.
- Wash polished terrazzo surface, using cleaner and water, and apply sealer and curing agent according to manufacturer's specifications, using brush or sprayer.
- Clean installation site, mixing and storage areas, tools, machines, and equipment, and store materials and equipment.
- Position and secure moisture membrane and wire mesh in preparation for pouring base materials for terrazzo installation.
- Modify mixing, grouting, grinding, or cleaning procedures, according to type of installation or material used.
- Move terrazzo installation materials, tools, machines, or work devices to work areas, manually or using wheelbarrow.
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 dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
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 dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost 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
- Speaking2.9
- Monitoring2.8
- Critical Thinking2.6
- Active Listening2.5
- Mathematics2.4
- Active Learning2.4
- Reading Comprehension2.1
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.6 |
| Active Listening | 2.5 |
| Mathematics | 2.4 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Operation and Control2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Social Perceptiveness2.6
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Operation and Control | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Terrazzo Worker and Finisher?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Terrazzo Worker and 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
- Artistic1.9
- Investigative1.8
- 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 Terrazzo Worker and Finisher
O*NET related occupations
- 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
Floor Layer, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
$56,460median a year
Most earn $38K to $97K
+9.0%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
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$57,020median a year
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- Construction and Extraction
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with terrazzo workers and finishers highlighted
- Terrazzo Worker and Finisher$76,170
- 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
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Terrazzo Worker and Finisher | $76,170 |
| 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 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Terrazzo Worker and Finisher appears on
Questions
Terrazzo Worker and Finisher: frequently asked questions
How much do Terrazzo Workers and Finishers make?
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers earn a median of $76,170 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 49% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $36.62/hr. The middle half earn between $54,830 and $114,780. The top 10% earn $126,130 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Terrazzo Worker and Finisher?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers. BLS also lists apprenticeship as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 69.9% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Terrazzo Worker and Finisher a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 13.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Terrazzo Worker and 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: measure designated amounts of ingredients for terrazzo or grout, according to standard formulas and specifications, using graduated containers and scales, and load ingredients into portable mixer. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Terrazzo Workers and Finishers the most?
The highest state medians for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers are New York ($123,820), Illinois ($107,190), Michigan ($72,450) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Terrazzo Worker and Finisher?
O*NET scores Terrazzo Workers and 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.