Career comparison
Brickmason vs. Concrete Finisher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Brickmasons earn more at the median ($62,120 vs. $57,020), while concrete finishers usually get to work faster (3–12 months on the job of training). Brickmasons build durable walls, chimneys and structures from brick, block and stone. Concrete finishers place, level and finish concrete for slabs, floors, sidewalks and roads.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Brickmason | Concrete Finisher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,120 ($29.87/hr) | $57,020 ($27.41/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $44,820 – $100,010 | $39,190 – $85,480 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.1% (slower than average) | +1.6% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 4,100 | 13,600 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) | 3–12 months on the job |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | ACI Concrete Flatwork Finisher |
| Work setting | Masons work outdoors on residential, commercial and institutional construction, often on scaffolds. | Finishers work outdoors and inside buildings under construction. |
What each job does
Brickmason
- Read blueprints and lay out walls
- Mix mortar to the right consistency
- Build leads and set string lines
- Lay brick and block in level, plumb courses
- Install wall ties, flashing, weep holes and reinforcement
Concrete Finisher
- 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
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, working outdoors, and teamwork. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose brickmason if…
- I like building things that last
- I’m comfortable with heavy physical work
- I take pride in neat, precise results
Choose concrete finisher if…
- I don’t mind very early mornings
- I like fast-paced physical work
- I can read conditions and make quick decisions
Still torn? Take the Brickmason fit quiz and the Concrete Finisher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, brickmason or concrete finisher?
Brickmasons earn more at the median: $62,120 versus $57,020 for concrete finishers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Concrete Finishers typically train faster (3–12 months on the job) than brickmasons (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects concrete finishers to grow +1.6% from 2025–35, compared with +1.1% for brickmasons.