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The differences between concrete finishers and contractor 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 $39,453 average annual salary of a contractor assistant.
The top three skills for a concrete finisher include hand tools, work ethic and finishers. The most important skills for a contractor assistant are drywall installation, purchase orders, and administrative tasks.
| Concrete Finisher | Contractor Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $40,674 | $39,453 |
| Hourly rate | $19.55 | $18.97 |
| Growth rate | -2% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 15,309 | 12,816 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| 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 contractor assistant is responsible for overseeing construction operations under the supervision of the general contractor, from the initial designs to the final touches, ensuring that the final output meets the client's specifications, requirements, and budget goals. Contractor assistants evaluate the costs and expenses and monitor the financial transactions for the project. They also coordinate with the client for updates and other adjustments as needed without compromising the project deliverables. Additionally, a contractor assistant may perform administrative and clerical duties on top of site visits, depending on the general contractor's needs.
Concrete finishers and contractor assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Concrete Finisher | Contractor Assistant | |
| Average salary | $40,674 | $39,453 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $62,000 | Between $33,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Spokane, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Illinois |
| Best paying company | Fluor | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a concrete finisher and a contractor assistant in terms of educational background:
| Concrete Finisher | Contractor Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between concrete finishers' and contractor assistants' demographics:
| Concrete Finisher | Contractor Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% | Male, 68.2% Female, 31.8% |
| 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, 5.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 22.5% Asian, 1.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |