Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Salary

The median cement masons and concrete finishers salary in the United States is $57,020 per year ($27.41/hour). Salaries range from $39,190 at the entry level to $85,480+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 206,170 cement masons and concrete finishers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.8% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asConcrete FinisherCement Mason
Median Salary
$57,020
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.41
per hour
Employment
206,170
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$39,190
25th percentile
$47,010
Median
$57,020
75th percentile
$66,870
90th percentile
$85,480

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+1.8%
Slower than average

Annual Openings

14,300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

No formal educational credential

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for cement masons and concrete finisherss.

Cement Masons + Concrete Finishers place, finish, and finish concrete surfaces β€” foundations, floors, sidewalks, driveways, bridges, industrial. Career splits: residential (foundations + driveways + patios), commercial + industrial (buildings + parking structures), infrastructure (highways + bridges + dams β€” union-heavy, prevailing wage), decorative concrete specialty (stamped + colored + polished), precast concrete. Path: high school + on-the-job apprenticeship or 3-4 year union apprenticeship (Operative Plasterers + Cement Masons International Association β€” OPCMIA). Compensation: entry $34-48k; skilled $48-72k; specialty + decorative $55-82k; foreman $62-92k; union prevailing wage $65-105k; contractor $85-350k+.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Concrete placement + finishing
Screeding, floating, troweling, edging. Consistent surface quality + finish timing.
Formwork + rebar placement
Wood + metal forms + rebar tie + spacers.
Blueprint reading + measurement
Reading construction drawings + elevations + rebar schedules.
Concrete mix design + workability
Understanding water-cement ratio + slump + admixtures + weather considerations.
Decorative + specialty finishes (stamped, colored, polished, exposed)
Higher-value specialty work. Specialty certifications + skill.
Safety + PPE + concrete burns
OSHA compliance + burns from wet concrete + confined spaces.
Equipment operation (screed, laser, power trowel)
Power tools + laser screeding for large pours.
Team + crew coordination
Concrete placement requires 4-8 person crew coordination during pour.

How to Become a Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

  1. 1
    Age 18+ + high school diploma preferred
    Physical fitness + reading + basic math.
  2. 2
    Apply to concrete contractor
    Residential + commercial + infrastructure. Union hall for union work.
  3. 3
    On-the-job apprenticeship or 3-4 year union apprenticeship (OPCMIA)
    Learn placement + finishing + specialty finishes.
  4. 4
    OSHA + safety certifications
    Required at job sites. $60-200 per course.
  5. 5
    Specialize (decorative, bridge, industrial floor, polished)
    Specialty commands 20-40% premium.
  6. 6
    Advance to foreman + contractor
    5-15 years. Higher pay + management + ownership.

Career Progression

Apprentice / Helper
0-2 yrs$32-45k Β· Hourly $15-22 Β· Union apprentice $22-30/hr
  • β€’Basic tasks under supervision
  • β€’Learning + assisting
Next: Journeyman.
Journeyman Cement Mason
2-6 yrs$45-68k Β· Hourly $22-32 Β· Union $65-90k + benefits + pension
  • β€’Independent placement + finishing
Next: Specialty / Foreman.
Specialty / Decorative / Foreman
5-10 yrs$58-88k Β· Union $80-115k + benefits
  • β€’Specialty finishes + supervision
Next: Foreman / Contractor.
Foreman / Working Supervisor
8-15 yrs$65-95k Β· Union $88-128k
  • β€’Crew management + job coordination
Next: Contractor.
Concrete Contractor / Shop Owner
12-20+ yrs$85-350k+ depending on scale
  • β€’Business ownership + P&L

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Tell me about your concrete experience.situational
Specific projects + finishes + years.
Q2. How do you handle placing concrete in hot weather?situational
Hydration + cool water + retarders + shading + evening pours. Never place in extreme conditions.
Q3. Tell me about a difficult pour.behavioral
STAR + coordination + timing + finish.
Q4. Why our contractor?culture
Research: work type + pay + benefits.
Q5. How do you handle safety?situational
PPE + burn protection + confined space + never bypass.

Resume Template β€” Journeyman Cement Mason (3-6 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Journeyman Cement Mason (3-6 yrs)
  • β–ΈJourneyman Cement Mason, [Contractor], 4 years residential + commercial concrete work.
  • β–ΈOSHA 10 + Fall Protection + Confined Space + Decorative Concrete certifications.
  • β–ΈBilingual English + Spanish. Trained 4 helpers.
  • β–ΈZero rework on 80+ commercial pours over past 24 months.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Weak safety awareness.
  • βœ—Poor pour timing or workability judgment.
  • βœ—Bad-mouthing prior employer.
  • βœ—Attendance issues.
  • βœ—Missing certifications.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Hourly rate + overtime premium.
  • βœ“Union vs non-union (union 30-50% more + pension).
  • βœ“Specialty pay (decorative, industrial, bridge).
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus $500-3k.
  • βœ“Per diem + travel pay for large projects.
  • βœ“Full benefits + pension (union).
  • βœ“Certifications support.

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  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
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Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$44K
$96Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Hawaii
$96K
+68%
Alaska
$93K
+63%
Illinois
$78K
+37%
Washington
$78K
+36%
Oregon
$69K
+20%
Minnesota
$67K
+17%
Wisconsin
$64K
+13%
New York
$64K
+12%
Massachusetts
$64K
+12%
Ohio
$63K
+10%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Hawaii$95,890+68.2%
Alaska$92,960+63.0%
Illinois$78,170+37.1%
Washington$77,520+36.0%
Oregon$68,530+20.2%
Minnesota$66,830+17.2%
Wisconsin$64,250+12.7%
New York$64,040+12.3%
Massachusetts$63,840+12.0%
Ohio$62,990+10.5%
1–10 of 51

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$104,450+83.2%
Urban Honolulu, HI$96,260+68.8%
Fairbanks-College, AK$92,410+62.1%
Anchorage, AK$92,250+61.8%
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$89,100+56.3%
Yakima, WA$87,830+54.0%
Lima, OH$81,270+42.5%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$81,020+42.1%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$80,860+41.8%
Janesville-Beloit, WI$77,990+36.8%
1–10 of 338
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A cement masons and concrete finishers earning $57,020/year would need 1045 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1122 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how cement masons and concrete finishers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers salary trend (2011–2024) β†’