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The differences between cement masons and concrete finishers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a concrete finisher has an average salary of $40,674, which is higher than the $38,433 average annual salary of a cement mason.
The top three skills for a cement mason include hand tools, sidewalks and expansion joints. The most important skills for a concrete finisher are hand tools, work ethic, and finishers.
| Cement Mason | Concrete Finisher | |
| Yearly salary | $38,433 | $40,674 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $19.55 |
| Growth rate | -2% | -2% |
| Number of jobs | 15,737 | 15,309 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A cement mason plays a vital role in every construction project. They specialize in pouring, spreading, forming, and even finishing cement in areas such as floors, ceilings, walls, and roads, ensuring procedures adhere to project guidelines and industry standards. They are also responsible for conducting measurements and other assessments, mixing cement, installing materials such as bolts and rebars to strengthen the cement, and applying compounds such as sealants and waterproofing mixtures. Moreover, a cement mason must maintain an open and transparent communication line with managers and co-workers for an efficient and safe workflow.
A concrete finisher is responsible for smoothing out concrete surfaces, ensuring that the final result followed the design and client's specifications. Concrete finishers operate special construction equipment to stabilize concrete forms. They also analyze blueprints and construction plans to identify necessary techniques and adjustments to deliver a high-quality project. A concrete finisher must also observe strict safety guidelines and procedures for doing the task and making sure that all tools are maintained. A concrete finisher must show excellent time-management, as well as the ability to multi-task to perform duties within a fast-paced environment.
Cement masons and concrete finishers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cement Mason | Concrete Finisher | |
| Average salary | $38,433 | $40,674 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $63,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Spokane, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | DLR Group | Fluor |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a cement mason and a concrete finisher in terms of educational background:
| Cement Mason | Concrete Finisher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Most common major | Masonry | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cement masons' and concrete finishers' demographics:
| Cement Mason | Concrete Finisher | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 29.7% Asian, 0.9% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 26.7% Asian, 0.9% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |