Inspect forms before concrete goes in
Make sure the forms line up and hold the required slope and depth.
Career profile
Concrete Mason and Finisher
Concrete finishers shape wet, freshly placed concrete into floors, curbs and sidewalks.
Finishers decide the slope, smoothness and edges of the surfaces people walk on. It takes a steady hand and a close watch on hardening concrete.
A day in the life
Rake and screed the pour
As the truck pours, work with its driver, rake the concrete around, then screed the top flat.
Smooth the top as it stiffens
Float and trowel the surface as it stiffens, watching how heat, cold and wind change the work.
Repair curbs and cut joints
On restoration jobs, repair broken columns, walls or curbs by hand, and on slabs, mark and cut joints.
Quick facts
Learn on the job
United States · 2025–2035
$57,020 median
United States · 2025
1.6% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Learn on the jobNo formal educational credential is typical nationally; employers and apprenticeships set their own entry requirements.
Pay
$57,020 medianThe national median was $27.41 an hour in 2025.
Outlook
1.6% projected growthAbout 13,600 openings a year are projected nationally over 2025–35.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You notice uneven edges and like making small, precise corrections.
- You enjoy physical work with a visible result.
- You can coordinate your movements with other people during a busy pour.
Things to weigh
- Long stretches of standing and kneeling, plus moving heavy materials, make this demanding work.
- Outdoor conditions affect the concrete, and some jobs require long hours.
Where AI may help
Laser-guided machines called screeds can level and compact concrete in an automated pass on slab projects.
What people still lead
People still check forms, watch the concrete, and finish edges and surfaces.
What we can’t predict yet
How much leveling shifts to machines will vary with equipment access and the kinds of pours a crew handles.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national figures as a comparison point when you look at a local offer.
The middle of the pay scale
The 2025 median was $57,020 a year, or $27.41 an hour. Half earned more and half earned less; this is not a starting wage.
The national spread
The lowest-paid 10% earned $39,190 or less annually; the highest-paid 10% earned $85,480 or more. These are wage percentiles, not beginner and experienced pay bands.
Pay differs by employer's industry
In May 2023, concrete finishers averaged $26.98 an hour at foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors, compared with $29.57 in highway, street, and bridge construction. These older industry averages show a workplace difference; they are not current offers or starting rates.
Openings with modest growth
Employment is projected to grow 1.6% over 2025–35, with about 13,600 openings annually. Openings include replacing workers who leave the occupation, so they exceed net job growth.
Getting started
Join a paid apprenticeship
Paid
- What the route involves
- Combine classes with jobsite practice alongside a qualified journeyperson. Learn preparation, placement, finishing, and repairs.
- What it can lead to
- Completing the program leads to journeyperson status and its wage rate.
- What to check
- Requirements vary. Northern California's three-year program requires applicants to be at least 18, read and write English, and be physically able to do the work. It does not require a high school diploma; students buy required tools and curriculum.
Build experience on a concrete crew
- What the route involves
- Seek an employer that trains beginners, then learn concrete work on the job with experienced workers.
- What it can lead to
- Concrete laborer experience can help you qualify for finishing positions.
- What to check
- Some finishing jobs require prior concrete experience and a high school diploma, so check whether a position actually trains new workers.
You can build skill through employment training or a formal apprenticeship. Check the actual employer or sponsor's requirements before applying.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get dependable with the basics
Build consistency in site preparation and placing concrete before taking on more of a pour.
Handle more shapes and equipment
Develop machine skills and learn the different demands of steps, curbs, gutters, and repairs.
Specialize in restoration
Build toward repairing structural concrete, including columns, beams, and walls, where careful patching becomes a larger part of your work.
Where you can work
City street maintenance crews
You remove and replace damaged sidewalks and curbs, haul repair materials, and work around existing streets. Some city jobs also include snow or emergency operations.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Construction and restoration contractors
You may move between finishing floor slabs and patching concrete walls or columns. Some crews travel across a region as projects change.
- Field work
- Travel
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Spend 15 minutes studying a finished sidewalk. Sketch its surface texture, rounded edges, and joint pattern. Which details look consistent, and where do they change? Notice whether examining that workmanship makes you curious about the tools behind it.
Stay safe: Use an open public walkway and stay outside construction barriers.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers, 47-2051.00. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- O*NET OnLine. California Wages: Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers — United States comparison. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Northern California Cement Masons Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee. Services. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Northern California Cement Masons Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee. Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Libs Paving. Careers — Concrete Finisher. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Keeley Construction. Concrete Finisher — Charlotte, North Carolina. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- City of Winston-Salem. Concrete Finisher — Job 08493. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Somero Enterprises. SRS-4 Laser Screed. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages: 47-2051 Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Tables. Accessed 2026-10-02.