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The differences between cement masons and drywall finishers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a drywall finisher has an average salary of $39,376, 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 drywall finisher are hand tools, ladders, and scaffolding.
| Cement Mason | Drywall Finisher | |
| Yearly salary | $38,433 | $39,376 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $18.93 |
| Growth rate | -2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 15,737 | 14,312 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 55% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
As a part of the construction team, the drywall finisher is the last to touch the product and place pieces, paint, and decorations for the final look. Also, they are to put premade walls on surfaces. Drywall finishers cut out the excess, position it properly, and fasten it to the interior for a glossy finish. As it is, drywall finishers must have a great sense of focus to grasp the instructions given to avoid mistakes. They must communicate well with others on the team to finish the project entirely and perfectly.
Cement masons and drywall finishers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cement Mason | Drywall Finisher | |
| Average salary | $38,433 | $39,376 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $63,000 | Between $24,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | DLR Group | Swinerton |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Professional |
There are a few differences between a cement mason and a drywall finisher in terms of educational background:
| Cement Mason | Drywall Finisher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 55% |
| Most common major | Masonry | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cement masons' and drywall finishers' demographics:
| Cement Mason | Drywall Finisher | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 30.0% Asian, 1.1% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |