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Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
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.
Other titles employers use
Cement Finisher · Cement Mason · Concrete Finisher · Concrete Mason · Finisher · Mason · Cement Patcher · Concrete Floor Installer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Quality Control Analysis
- Time Management
- Active Listening
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
Useful strengths
- Manual Dexterity
- Trunk Strength
- Multilimb Coordination
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.4 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.8 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.9 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Most employers do not ask for a formal credential. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 87%
- A certificate or some college 12%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Analytical or scientific software
- Project management software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Accounting software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 32,700
- Job openings each year
- 2,580
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 7.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 32,700 | 2,580 | 7.2% |
| Texas | 22,760 | 1,760 | 4.4% |
| Florida | 17,870 | 1,430 | 9.4% |
| Arizona | 7,300 | 570 | 6.0% |
| Illinois | 7,110 | 520 | −3.1% |
| Washington | 6,720 | 610 | 11.1% |
| Colorado | 6,640 | 520 | 5.1% |
| New York | 5,940 | 20 | 3.5% |
| Virginia | 5,790 | 420 | −3.8% |
| North Carolina | 5,600 | 430 | 2.2% |
| Utah | 5,490 | 480 | 24.5% |
| Wisconsin | 5,340 | 410 | 4.9% |
| Missouri | 5,190 | 380 | −2.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 5,020 | 370 | −2.0% |
| Michigan | 4,980 | 350 | −5.3% |
| Ohio | 4,760 | 340 | −4.0% |
| Tennessee | 4,160 | 340 | 13.7% |
| Indiana | 4,080 | 300 | −3.1% |
| Idaho | 3,810 | 320 | 17.2% |
| Oregon | 3,760 | 290 | 6.2% |
| Nebraska | 3,660 | 280 | 1.9% |
| Iowa | 3,460 | 270 | 3.6% |
| Minnesota | 3,390 | 260 | 1.5% |
| Maryland | 3,360 | 250 | — |
| Kansas | 3,070 | 220 | −2.2% |
| Nevada | 3,050 | 230 | 1.7% |
| Georgia | 2,970 | 240 | 7.6% |
| Oklahoma | 2,740 | 200 | — |
| New Jersey | 2,270 | 170 | −1.7% |
| Kentucky | 2,130 | 150 | −4.1% |
| Alabama | 2,070 | 160 | 4.0% |
| South Carolina | 1,900 | 140 | −1.0% |
| South Dakota | 1,890 | 150 | 6.2% |
| New Mexico | 1,690 | 130 | 4.3% |
| Arkansas | 1,400 | 100 | −1.4% |
| North Dakota | 1,310 | 100 | 4.0% |
| Louisiana | 1,220 | 90 | 5.2% |
| Mississippi | 1,070 | 90 | 10.3% |
| Montana | 1,050 | 90 | 15.4% |
| Puerto Rico | 970 | 80 | 5.4% |
| Wyoming | 820 | 70 | 13.9% |
| Connecticut | 760 | 60 | 4.1% |
| West Virginia | 690 | 50 | −1.4% |
| Massachusetts | 620 | 50 | 1.6% |
| Maine | 500 | 40 | −7.4% |
| Guam | 420 | 30 | −16.0% |
| Delaware | 400 | 30 | 2.6% |
| New Hampshire | 400 | 30 | 2.6% |
| District of Columbia | 280 | 20 | — |
| Alaska | 240 | 20 | 9.1% |
| Vermont | 220 | 20 | — |
| Rhode Island | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Virgin Islands | 40 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Degrees each year
- 76
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Rowan University
- Degrees each year
- 56
- Admit rate
- 78%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Tuskegee University
- Degrees each year
- 12
- Admit rate
- 31%
- Annual cost after aid
- $35,000
Thomas Jefferson University
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $25,000
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Compare every college offering building/construction finishing, management, and inspection