Construction Laborer
Prepare sites, move materials, pour concrete and support every trade on the job.
- $47,120
- Days to weeks (on the job)
Skilled Trades & Construction career
Concrete Finisher
Also called: Cement Mason · Concrete Worker · Flatwork Finisher · Concrete Mason
What concrete finishers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a concrete finisher do?
Cement masons and concrete finishers place, screed, float and trowel concrete to create smooth, durable slabs, floors, sidewalks, curbs and other surfaces. The median pay is $57,020 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 3–12 months on the job, and employment is projected to grow +1.6% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$57,020$27.41/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+1.6%2025–35, slower than average
- Openings per year13,600Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to train3–12 months on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs204,800Employment, 2025
What concrete finishers do
Concrete finishers work fast, because concrete sets on its own schedule. They set forms, place and spread concrete, screed it level, float and trowel it to the right finish, cut control joints and cure the surface. Projects range from driveways and patios to warehouse floors, parking decks, curbs and highways.
Most finishers learn on the job, and some complete apprenticeships through the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ union or contractor programs. Experienced finishers who can read concrete and produce flat, durable floors are valued and often move into foreman or contractor roles.
Typical duties
- Set and check forms and reinforcement
- Place and spread fresh concrete
- Screed concrete to grade
- Float and trowel surfaces by hand and with power trowels
- Edge and cut control joints
- Apply finishes such as broom, stamped or polished
- Cure, seal and protect new concrete
Work environment and schedule
Finishers work outdoors and inside buildings under construction. The work involves kneeling, bending, heavy lifting and long days on your feet, often in heat. Wet concrete can cause chemical burns.
Schedule: Days start very early, especially in hot weather, and pours can’t wait, so overtime is common. Work slows in freezing and rainy weather.
A day in the life
- Arrive early to check forms, grade and rebar before the first truck.
- Place concrete from the chute and pump, spreading it with rakes and come-alongs.
- Screed the slab to the forms and bull float the surface.
- Wait for bleed water to leave, then edge and groove the slab.
See a full day in the life of a concrete finisher →
Concrete Finisher salary
Half of concrete finishers earned more than $57,020 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $39,190 for the lowest 10% to $85,480 for the top 10%.
Full concrete finisher pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a concrete finisher
- Start as a laborer
- Learn finishing basics
- Master troweling
- Get certified
- Advance
No formal education is required. Most finishers learn on the job. Apprenticeships last about three years and include classroom training on concrete properties, blueprints and safety.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a concrete finisher →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Screeding and floating
- Hand and power troweling
- Reading concrete set times
- Forming and grading
- Joint cutting
People skills
- Teamwork
- Timing and judgment
- Stamina
- Attention to detail
All concrete finisher skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Start without formal education
- Steady demand from building and infrastructure
- Overtime pay on big pours
- Satisfying, lasting results
Cons
- Very early starts and long days
- Hard on knees and back
- Chemical burns from wet concrete
- Weather-dependent schedules
Certifications and licenses
- ACI Concrete Flatwork Finisher: American Concrete Institute certification for finishers.
- ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade I: Certification to perform field tests such as slump and air content.
- OSHA 10-Hour Construction: Basic construction safety training.
- Silica safety training: Training on controlling silica dust when cutting and grinding.
Career path
- Concrete Laborer: Help place and spread concrete.
- Concrete Finisher: Screed, float and trowel slabs.
- Lead Finisher or Foreman: Run pours and finishing crews.
- Superintendent or Concrete Contractor: Manage projects or own a concrete business.
Learn the job before day one
Our Concrete Finisher training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as finish a concrete slab and cut control joints, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Concrete Finisher vs. Construction Laborer · Concrete Finisher vs. Brickmason · Concrete Finisher vs. Heavy Equipment Operator · Concrete Finisher vs. Carpenter
Concrete Finisher FAQ
Is concrete finishing hard to learn?
The basics come quickly, but reading concrete and producing flat, durable floors takes years of experience.
Why do concrete workers start so early?
Concrete sets faster in heat, so crews pour in the cool morning.
Do concrete finishers need certification?
Not always, but ACI certifications are often required on commercial and public projects.
How much does a concrete finisher make?
The median annual wage for concrete finishers was $57,020 ($27.41 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $39,190 and the highest 10% earned more than $85,480.
How long does it take to become a concrete finisher?
Most people need about 3–12 months on the job of training. No formal education is required. Most finishers learn on the job. Apprenticeships last about three years and include classroom training on concrete properties, blueprints and safety.
Do you need a degree to be a concrete finisher?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
More concrete finisher questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 47-2051 (Cement masons and concrete finishers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Cement masons and concrete finishers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.