Cement masons and concrete finishers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Mean (average) | $60,050 | $28.87 |
| 90th percentile | $85,480 | $41.10 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cement masons and concrete finishers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,720 | $34,890 | $60,240 | 2,110 | 0.75 |
| Alaska | $92,960 | $84,450 | $123,880 | 240 | 0.55 |
| Arizona | $58,910 | $47,580 | $76,750 | 7,520 | 1.75 |
| Arkansas | $46,230 | $34,260 | $59,340 | 1,900 | 1.1 |
| California | $62,700 | $46,510 | $101,810 | 28,700 | 1.19 |
| Colorado | $60,700 | $46,130 | $75,540 | 5,140 | 1.35 |
| Connecticut | $58,640 | $38,590 | $90,710 | 610 | 0.27 |
| Delaware | $57,030 | $44,130 | $79,260 | 400 | 0.62 |
| District of Columbia | $61,680 | $47,050 | $87,120 | 320 | 0.35 |
| Florida | $48,680 | $38,240 | $63,310 | 15,240 | 1.16 |
| Georgia | $46,240 | $31,990 | $72,150 | 3,400 | 0.52 |
| Guam | $35,140 | $33,940 | $38,130 | 1,190 | 13.51 |
| Hawaii | $95,890 | $49,030 | $110,230 | 650 | 0.78 |
| Idaho | $56,410 | $43,420 | $72,410 | 2,540 | 2.23 |
| Illinois | $78,170 | $49,050 | $107,670 | 5,890 | 0.73 |
| Indiana | $61,270 | $44,680 | $76,850 | 4,390 | 1.03 |
| Iowa | $58,220 | $40,910 | $74,180 | 2,110 | 1.02 |
| Kansas | $52,130 | $39,010 | $79,670 | 3,610 | 1.89 |
| Kentucky | $50,200 | $37,490 | $67,530 | 1,280 | 0.48 |
| Louisiana | $49,180 | $35,670 | $74,190 | 910 | 0.35 |
| Maine | $55,680 | $38,350 | $75,370 | 730 | 0.86 |
| Maryland | $51,950 | $39,300 | $71,820 | 2,540 | 0.69 |
| Massachusetts | $63,840 | $49,330 | $111,910 | 1,590 | 0.33 |
| Michigan | $59,860 | $43,860 | $75,650 | 6,350 | 1.09 |
| Minnesota | $66,830 | $49,380 | $98,610 | 3,070 | 0.79 |
| Mississippi | $43,980 | $32,710 | $57,020 | 930 | 0.6 |
| Missouri | $61,390 | $42,280 | $87,010 | 6,220 | 1.6 |
| Montana | $61,620 | $48,170 | $76,950 | 780 | 1.15 |
| Nebraska | $49,510 | $42,670 | $62,950 | 3,200 | 2.36 |
| Nevada | $61,230 | $45,650 | $90,020 | 3,290 | 1.6 |
| New Hampshire | $54,210 | $45,120 | $75,570 | 300 | 0.33 |
| New Jersey | $61,410 | $44,730 | $105,920 | 2,390 | 0.42 |
| New Mexico | $49,230 | $39,350 | $70,260 | 1,540 | 1.33 |
| New York | $64,040 | $49,540 | $102,970 | 9,060 | 0.71 |
| North Carolina | $46,780 | $37,090 | $60,290 | 4,610 | 0.7 |
| North Dakota | $57,710 | $46,500 | $71,440 | 1,190 | 2.09 |
| Ohio | $62,990 | $44,130 | $81,320 | 6,060 | 0.82 |
| Oklahoma | $45,750 | $36,380 | $57,860 | 2,980 | 1.32 |
| Oregon | $68,530 | $49,000 | $94,540 | 2,170 | 0.83 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,610 | $44,090 | $78,100 | 5,180 | 0.64 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,000 | $22,360 | $37,000 | 480 | 0.38 |
| Rhode Island | $62,950 | $49,220 | $94,110 | 250 | 0.37 |
| South Carolina | $49,360 | $36,760 | $76,730 | 1,930 | 0.63 |
| South Dakota | $47,160 | $36,640 | $63,380 | 2,550 | 4.21 |
| Tennessee | $47,910 | $35,990 | $60,440 | 3,920 | 0.9 |
| Texas | $47,500 | $36,360 | $60,770 | 26,430 | 1.42 |
| Utah | $56,420 | $45,750 | $66,830 | 5,340 | 2.32 |
| Vermont | $61,160 | $49,390 | $76,500 | 270 | 0.67 |
| Virginia | $50,930 | $37,420 | $72,690 | 4,020 | 0.74 |
| Washington | $77,520 | $49,710 | $125,720 | 4,440 | 0.94 |
| West Virginia | $51,950 | $32,170 | $63,790 | 760 | 0.82 |
| Wisconsin | $64,250 | $48,410 | $93,910 | 4,490 | 1.15 |
| Wyoming | $58,450 | $46,570 | $73,860 | 620 | 1.68 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cement masons and concrete finishers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 13,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cement masons and concrete finishers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher CIP 46.0402
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
Technology skills
- ACT Contractors Forms
- ADAPT-Modeler
- HIPERPAV
- Hard Dollar HD Project Estimating
- LogicSphere Firstmix
- Maxwell Systems Quest Estimator
- National Concrete & Masonry Estimator
- Shilstone seeMIX
- Sirus GT Construction Accounting
- Tradesman's Software Master Estimator
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Cement Finisher, Cement Mason, Concrete Finisher, Concrete Mason, Finisher, Mason.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cement masons and concrete finishers make?
The national median annual wage for cement masons and concrete finishers was $57,020 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,190 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $85,480. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cement masons and concrete finishers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cement masons and concrete finishers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cement masons and concrete finishers to change +1.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 13,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cement masons and concrete finishers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($95,890), Alaska ($92,960), Illinois ($78,170). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.