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Cement Masons


Overview

Cement Masons

Introduction

Cement masons, who usually work for contractors in the building and construction industries, apply the concrete surfaces in many different kinds of construction projects, ranging from small patios and sidewalks to highways, dams, and airport runways. Their responsibilities include building forms for holding the concrete, determining the correct mixture of ingredients, and making sure the structure is suitable to the environment. Approximately 191,100 cement masons and concrete finishers are employed in the United States.

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$43,000

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma
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Experience

Up to three years for a journeyman


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Skills

Building/Trades
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Personality Traits

Athletic
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Earnings

The earnings of cement masons vary widely according to factors such as geographic location, whether they work overtime, and how much bad weather or local economic conditions reduce working hours. Nonunion workers generally have lower wages than union workers.

Cement masons earned a median wage of $20.67 per hour or $43,000 annually in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The ...

Work Environment

Cement masons do strenuous work, and they need to have good stamina. Many work outdoors and with other workers. Although cement masons might not work much in rainy and snowy conditions because cement cannot be poured in such weather, they might frequently work overtime because, once the cement has been poured, the finishing operations must be completed quickly. Temporary heated shelters are som...

Outlook

Employment for cement masons and concrete finishers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The number of trained workers is relatively small, and cement masons often leave the profession for less strenuous lines of work. In addition, concrete is expected to increase as an important building material because of it...