Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-2051 · O*NET 47-2051.00
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 Masons and Concrete Finishers fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn a median salary of $54,660 per year, ranking in the top 56% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +1.8% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn?
The median annual wage for cement masons and concrete finishers is $54,660. That puts cement masons and concrete finishers at #456 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $38,290 |
| 25th percentile | $46,020 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $54,660 |
| 75th percentile | $65,840 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,620 |
| Median hourly wage | $26.28/hr |
Is cement masons and concrete finishers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for cement masons and concrete finishers is +1.8%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 206K positions in 2024 to 210K in 2034, a net change of 4K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do cement masons and concrete finishers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working cement masons and concrete finishers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
- 2.Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface.
- 3.Build wooden molds, and clamp molds around area to be repaired, using hand tools.
- 4.Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
- 5.Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
- 6.Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
- 7.Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
- 8.Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth, using trowel.
Top skills for cement masons and concrete finishers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become cement masons and concrete finisher?
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about cement masons and concrete finishers
What is the median salary for cement masons and concrete finishers?
The median annual salary for cement masons and concrete finishers is $54,660 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is cement masons and concrete finishers a growing career?
BLS projects +1.8% growth for cement masons and concrete finishers from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become cement masons and concrete finisher?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to cement masons and concrete finishers?
Related occupations within the Construction and Extraction category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.