Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Cement masons and concrete finishers work in a skilled trade with an established national presence and measurable room for continued hiring. With national employment of 207,000 workers and projected growth of 1.8%, this field offers a sizable workforce and modest expansion. The role draws on a mix of physical ability, fine motor skills, and attention to detail, supported by strengths in mathematics, mechanical aptitude, and problem solving. Leadership, project management, and customer service skills can also play a role in advancing within this career path. Entry is accessible, as the typical education requirement is no formal educational credential, making it a potential option for people who want to build a hands-on career without a traditional academic route. For those interested in job opportunities, multiple states and metro areas show notable opportunity scores, salaries, and employment levels, giving prospective workers a range of geographic options to consider when planning their careers.
Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a national median annual salary of $54,660. Within this overall picture, pay varies by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a median salary of $77,520, while New York, Massachusetts, and California cluster in the low-to-mid $60,000s, and Colorado sits at $60,700. At the metro level, several areas report higher median salaries than the national median, including San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $75,970 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $75,520. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $65,670, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $62,870. These differences indicate that location choices can significantly shape earning potential, even within the same occupation. Job seekers can weigh higher local salaries against other factors such as employment levels and personal relocation preferences.
This occupation has a solid footprint in the labor market, with national employment of 207,000 cement masons and concrete finishers. Projected growth of 1.8% suggests that overall employment is expected to increase, adding to ongoing openings created when workers change jobs or leave the labor force. Nationally, there are 14,000 annual openings, which reflects both new positions and replacement needs. The combination of an existing large workforce and continued openings provides a stream of opportunities for new entrants as well as experienced workers. Growth of 1.8% is also reflected consistently in the listed top states and metro areas, indicating that these regions align with the national projection. People considering this field can plan for a labor market that is neither static nor rapidly changing, with a steady volume of openings across the country.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for cement masons and concrete finishers. Among states, California has the highest employment with 28,700 workers, a median salary of $62,700, and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Massachusetts combine mid-$60,000s median salaries with smaller workforces but similarly strong opportunity scores above 65. Washington stands out for pay, with a median salary of $77,520 and an opportunity score of 56.29, while Colorado offers $60,700 in median pay and 5,140 employed workers. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area has an opportunity score of 77.42, a median salary of $75,520, and 1,500 employed workers. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a similar opportunity score of 77.27, median salary of $65,670, and higher employment at 8,390. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $75,970 in median pay and an opportunity score of 68.75. These figures highlight meaningful differences in both pay and scale of local job markets across regions.
The typical education requirement for cement masons and concrete finishers is no formal educational credential. This makes the field accessible to individuals who want to enter the workforce without completing a degree or other formal program. Instead of classroom requirements, success in this occupation relies heavily on a specific mix of skills. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills are central, reflecting the hands-on and physically demanding nature of the work. Being detail oriented supports accuracy and quality in daily tasks. Mechanical aptitude, mathematics, and science contribute to understanding tools, materials, and measurements. In addition, customer service, problem solving and decision making, project management, and leadership skills can help workers coordinate jobs, interact effectively with clients or team members, and take on more responsibility over time. Together, this combination of physical, technical, and interpersonal skills defines the core competency profile for this career.
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