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.
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Licensing, certifications and working conditions
State licensing. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers is licensed or registered in 6 of 57 states and territories, as reported by each state to CareerOneStop. A license often applies only to certain roles within a career, and records were last updated between 2010 and 2024, so confirm requirements with the state licensing board.
Certifications. CareerOneStop directly links 18 professional certifications to Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers. 15 of them are in CareerOneStop's "Core" group, for example: ACI Shotcrete Nozzleman (Dry-Mix Process), ACI Shotcrete Nozzleman (Wet-Mix Process), Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher, Certified Concrete Surface Repair Technician (CSRT), Certified Residential Concrete Foundation Technician. Certifications are voluntary credentials offered by the organizations named; listing one is not an endorsement.
Working conditions. On average, workers stand or walk about 7.4 hours and sit about 0.7 hours per day. The typical heaviest weight lifted or carried is about 50.0 pounds. Shares of workers who interact with the general public (39.4%), have a consistently fast work pace (45.7%), cannot pause their work (52.4%), and are exposed to the outdoors (over 95%). From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Requirements Survey (2023 estimates); figures describe the occupation on average.
Sources: CareerOneStop (licenses and certifications), part of the CareerOneStop suite of web products, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (working conditions, wages). MajorPays has reorganized this information; these agencies have not approved or endorsed it. See it interactively, with state-by-state detail →
More data on this career
Where the jobs are, and what they pay by industry. Nationwide, the industries that employ the most cement masons and concrete finishers are Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (51% of the jobs counted, median pay $56,410), Other Specialty Trade Contractors (16% of the jobs counted, median pay $58,770), Nonresidential Building Construction (10% of the jobs counted, median pay $61,180), Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (9% of the jobs counted, median pay $55,480) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). Among large industries, the highest median pay is in Nonresidential Building Construction ($61,180), Other Specialty Trade Contractors ($58,770), Residential Building Construction ($58,160). Pay differs by industry for many reasons, including the mix of jobs and where employers are located.
Injury and illness rates. For cement masons and concrete finishers, employers reported 26.2 nonfatal injury and illness cases with days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 94.6 for all U.S. workers; the median case kept the worker away 5 days (all workers: 8) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023-2024). Rates reflect the work setting as well as the occupation.
Union membership. In the broad group "Construction and extraction", which includes this career, 16.4% of wage and salary workers belong to a union (all U.S. workers: 10.0%); median weekly pay is $1,561 for union members and $1,004 for workers not in a union (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025). This is a group figure, not specific to cement masons and concrete finishers.
Employer benefits. In the broad group "Natural resources, construction, and maintenance", which includes this career, 74% of civilian workers had access to an employer retirement plan, 79% had access to employer medical care benefits, and 78% had paid sick leave, 86% paid vacation and 89% paid holidays (all civilian workers: 75%, 74%, 83%, 77% and 79%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey, March 2026). This is a group figure, not specific to cement masons and concrete finishers, and having access to a benefit does not mean every worker uses it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not endorsed this presentation. Employers spent about $48.59 per hour worked on total compensation for the occupational group "Natural resources, construction, and maintenance" in June 2026 ($32.96 in wages and salaries and $15.63 in benefits, 32.2% of the total; all civilian workers: $49.46, with 31.6% in benefits) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation).
Work environment. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, the conditions most often placed at the two highest levels for cement masons and concrete finishers are: spend time standing (100%), spend time walking or running (99%), exposed to very hot or cold temperatures (99%), exposed to sounds, noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable (99%), exposed to contaminants (99%), physical proximity (97%). Each percentage is the share of respondents choosing the top two levels for that condition (for example 'most of the time' or 'continually'), so it describes how common the condition is in the job, not how a particular workplace is (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Typical preparation. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, for related work experience, the most common answer (26% of 28 respondents) was "none"; for on-site or in-plant training, the most common answer (34% of 28 respondents) was "none"; for on-the-job training, the most common answer (29% of 28 respondents) was "anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month". These are what workers report is needed to do the job; employers' requirements and individual paths vary (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Related careers. O*NET lists these occupations as similar to cement masons and concrete finishers in the work done and the skills used: Terrazzo Workers and Finishers, Construction Laborers, Brickmasons and Blockmasons, Segmental Pavers, Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters, Tile and Stone Setters, Stonemasons, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Pay by state. See what cement masons and concrete finishers earn in each state, with the pay range and number of jobs: Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers salary by state (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
Compare cement masons and concrete finishers with other careers (pay, growth, openings and education side by side).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 PUMS (MajorPays' own estimates from the survey; Census is credited as the source of the original data and has not endorsed them); BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; BLS Current Population Survey; BLS National Compensation Survey (employee benefits); HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (LCA disclosure data, FY2025). MajorPays has selected and reorganized these figures; these agencies have not approved or endorsed them. See it interactively →
Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher
CIP 46.0402