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. Installers of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units are classified in “Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers” (37-3011).
National median · BLS
$57,020
▲ +4.32%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$60,050
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
206,170
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$39,190
25th
$47,010
Median (50th)
$57,020
75th
$66,870
90th — top pay
$85,480
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
BLS projects employment of cement masons and concrete finishers to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 13,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
204,800 → 208,100
+3,300 jobs
Projected change
+1.6%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
13,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
Jobs
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Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Monitoring3.3
Coordination3.1
Quality Control Analysis3.1
Speaking3.1
Time Management3.1
Active Listening3.0
Complex Problem Solving3.0
Critical Thinking3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Operation and Control2.9
Top knowledge areas
English Language3.7
Building and Construction3.5
Mathematics3.1
Public Safety and Security3.1
Mechanical2.6
Administration and Management2.6
Transportation2.5
Customer and Personal Service2.3
Software and technology used
ACT Contractors FormsADAPT-ModelerHard Dollar HD Project EstimatingHIPERPAVLogicSphere FirstmixMaxwell Systems Quest EstimatorNational Concrete & Masonry EstimatorShilstone seeMIXSirus GT Construction AccountingTradesman's Software Master Estimator
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What cement masons and concrete finishers do
Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
Cement Gun OperatorCement Mason Concrete FinisherCement PatcherCementerColumn PrecasterConcrete Construction LaborerConcrete CutterConcrete Cutting OperatorConcrete Fence BuilderConcrete FloaterConcrete Floor InstallerConcrete Form SetterConcrete Grinder OperatorConcrete LaborerConcrete Placement Equipment OperatorConcrete PointerConcrete PolisherConcrete RubberConcrete SetterConcrete SmootherConcrete SpecialistConcrete Stone FinisherConcrete Swimming Pool InstallerConcrete Technician (Concrete Tech)Curb BuilderFloat OperatorFloor GrinderJoint FinisherJoint SetterPlacement SpecialistSwimming Pool Installer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $57,020.
