# Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

US SOC code 47-2051. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/47-2051

Also called: Cement mason, Concrete finisher, Concrete flatwork finisher, Concrete trowel operator, Paving finisher.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **206,170** US cement masons and concrete finishers, with median pay of **$57,020** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **218,170**, in May 2006. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://groundedinconcrete.com/when-was-concrete-first-used-in-the-united-states/) of **25,000** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for cement masons and concrete finishers: HIPERPAV and early concrete curing software, 1995 to 2015.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-2051&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **0%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1870
- Latest US employment: 206,170 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Latest US median pay: $57,020 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [11]
- Outlook: +1.6% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [25]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 73100)
  - Employment, 2020: 8,785. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [9]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 73100 Concrete finishers, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$64,000. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [14]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 73100 Concrete finishers, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 25,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Grounded in Concrete [1] |
| 1940 | 80,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Smart Construction Guide [2] |
| 1960 | 140,000 (estimate) | $5,200 (estimate) | Est., AFL-CIO [3] |
| 1985 | 175,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook [4] |
| 2000 | 190,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., O\*NET 47-2051.00 [5] |
| 2003 | 180,540 | $30,780 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [6] |
| 2004 | 191,690 | $31,400 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [6] |
| 2005 | 204,720 | $32,030 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [6] |
| 2006 | 218,170 | $32,650 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [6] |
| 2007 | 213,850 | $33,840 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [6] |
| 2008 | 201,730 | $35,080 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [6] |
| 2009 | 165,700 | $35,440 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [6] |
| 2010 | 140,950 | $35,450 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [6] |
| 2011 | 135,330 | $35,600 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [6] |
| 2012 | 135,200 | $35,760 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [6] |
| 2013 | 141,910 | $36,130 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [6] |
| 2014 | 152,570 | $36,760 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [6] |
| 2015 | 163,360 | $37,740 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [6] |
| 2016 | 173,920 | $39,180 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [6] |
| 2017 | 178,640 | $40,650 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [6] |
| 2018 | 186,400 | $43,000 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [6] |
| 2019 | 196,120 | $44,810 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [6] |
| 2020 | 195,580 | $46,000 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [6] |
| 2021 | 186,600 | $47,340 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [6] |
| 2022 | 196,730 | $48,300 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [6] |
| 2023 | 203,560 | $50,720 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [6] |
| 2024 | 205,230 | $54,660 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [6] |
| 2025 | 206,170 | $57,020 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [6] |

## Sources (88)

### Employment series

1. [Grounded in Concrete — "When Was Concrete First Used in the United States?" (early US concrete construction history)](https://groundedinconcrete.com/when-was-concrete-first-used-in-the-united-states/), Grounded in Concrete
2. [Smart Construction Guide — "The Concrete Mixer Truck: The Unseen Machine That Built the Modern World" (ready-mix history, 700 plants by 1941)](https://smartconstructionguide.com/the-concrete-mixer-truck-the-unseen-machine-that-built-the-modern-world/), Smart Construction Guide
3. [AFL-CIO — "Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Plasterers and Cement Masons" (OPCMIA 1960 membership 62,772; 42% in concrete industry)](https://aflcio.org/2020/1/21/get-know-afl-cios-affiliates-plasterers-and-cement-masons), AFL-CIO
4. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (historical employment context)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/cement-masons-and-concrete-finishers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. [O\*NET 47-2051.00 — Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (occupation profile and BLS OEWS reference)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2051.00), O\*NET / BLS
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
8. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
9. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

10. [AFL-CIO — "Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Plasterers and Cement Masons" (historical wage context, OPCMIA trade rates)](https://aflcio.org/2020/1/21/get-know-afl-cios-affiliates-plasterers-and-cement-masons), AFL-CIO
11. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
14. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

15. [Grounded in Concrete — History of Concrete Timeline (early 20th century techniques and tools)](https://groundedinconcrete.com/history-of-concrete-timeline/), Grounded in Concrete
16. [OPCMIA — Our History (union craft definition and scope in the hand-tool era)](https://www.opcmia.org/about-us/our-history/), Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association
17. [Smart Construction Guide — "The Concrete Mixer Truck: The Unseen Machine That Built the Modern World" (transit mixer history, 700 plants by 1941)](https://smartconstructionguide.com/the-concrete-mixer-truck-the-unseen-machine-that-built-the-modern-world/), Smart Construction Guide
18. [Wikipedia — Power trowel (construction equipment)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_trowel), Wikipedia
19. [Allen Engineering — Riding Trowels product history (Allen Engineering's role in walk-behind and ride-on trowel development)](https://www.alleneng.com/product/riding-trowels), Allen Engineering
20. [Pro Screed — "Who Invented the Laser Screed?" (Dave Somero 1983 concept, 1985 prototype, 1986 commercial launch)](https://www.proscreed.com/blog/who-invented-the-laser-screed/), Pro Screed
21. [For Construction Pros — "Q&A with the Inventor of the Somero Laser Screed"](https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/equipment-products/screeds/article/10846925/somero-enterprises-qa-with-the-inventor-of-the-somero-laser-screed), For Construction Pros
22. [FHWA — HIPERPAV III concrete pavement behavior software](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/hiperpav.cfm), Federal Highway Administration
23. [O\*NET 47-2051.00 — task descriptions and technology landscape for cement masons and concrete finishers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2051.00), O\*NET / BLS
24. [Mordor Intelligence — Decorative Concrete Market Report 2025-2030](https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/decorative-concrete-market), Mordor Intelligence

### Forecasts and exposure studies

25. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 47-2051 Cement masons and concrete finishers (2025: 204.8 thousand; 2035: 208.1 thousand; +1.6%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-2051&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
26. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 47-2051.00, human-rated β 0)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

27. [OPCMIA — Our History (union history from 1864 origin)](https://www.opcmia.org/about-us/our-history/), Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association
28. [Grounded in Concrete — "History of Concrete Timeline" (first concrete road 1913; first ready-mix delivery Baltimore 1913)](https://groundedinconcrete.com/history-of-concrete-timeline/), Grounded in Concrete
29. [Wikipedia — Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association (1946 apprenticeship program with veterans)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operative_Plasterers%27_and_Cement_Masons%27_International_Association), Wikipedia
30. [HISTORY — "Congress approves Federal-Aid Highway Act" (June 29, 1956, $25 billion, 41,000 miles)](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-26/congress-approves-federal-highway-act), HISTORY
31. [AFL-CIO — "Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Plasterers and Cement Masons" (OPCMIA 1960 membership and headquarters relocation)](https://aflcio.org/2020/1/21/get-know-afl-cios-affiliates-plasterers-and-cement-masons), AFL-CIO
32. [Pro Screed — "Who Invented the Laser Screed?" (Hilliard, Somero Enterprises, 1986 commercial launch)](https://www.proscreed.com/blog/who-invented-the-laser-screed/), Pro Screed
33. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (historical employment context and 2008 crisis impact)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/cement-masons-and-concrete-finishers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Predecessors & successors

34. [OPCMIA — Our History (plasterers and cement masons unified in one union since 1864; cement masons split as a distinct specialty with Portland cement adoption)](https://www.opcmia.org/about-us/our-history/), Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (47-2051.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2051.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS OEWS May 2024 — 47-2051 Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (national flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), accessed 2026-10-07
- [BLS OOH — Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/cement-masons-and-concrete-finishers.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Decorative Concrete Market Report 2025-2030 — Mordor Intelligence](https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/decorative-concrete-market), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Togal.AI — AI-powered construction takeoff platform](https://www.togal.ai/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [6 AI construction estimating software platforms tested — Robotics and Automation News, Feb 2026](https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2026/02/19/6-ai-construction-estimating-software-tested-on-complex-project-accuracy/98967/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Somero S-940 Laser Screed — product overview](https://www.somero.com/products/s-940-laser-screed/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Somero S-485 donated for 2025 CIM Auction at World of Concrete — Construction Equipment Guide](https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/somero-enterprises-donates-somero-s-485-laser-screed-machine-for-2025-cim-auction-at-world-of-concrete/66922), accessed 2026-06-05
- [HIPERPAV III — FHWA concrete pavement behavior software](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/hiperpav.cfm), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.