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The differences between concrete finishers and construction assistants 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 $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.
The top three skills for a concrete finisher include hand tools, work ethic and finishers. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.
| Concrete Finisher | Construction Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $40,674 | $39,072 |
| Hourly rate | $19.55 | $18.78 |
| Growth rate | -2% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 15,309 | 31,209 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 40 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.
Concrete finishers and construction assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Concrete Finisher | Construction Assistant | |
| Average salary | $40,674 | $39,072 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $62,000 | Between $28,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Spokane, WA | Springfield, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Fluor | Beazer Homes |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a concrete finisher and a construction assistant in terms of educational background:
| Concrete Finisher | Construction Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between concrete finishers' and construction assistants' demographics:
| Concrete Finisher | Construction Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% | Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |