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Salary comparison

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers out-earn Construction Laborers by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers land at $57,020 and Construction Laborers at $47,120. The education gap is real: cement masons and concrete finisher programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers is Hawaii ($95,890); for Construction Laborers it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$57,020
$47,120
Hourly rate
$27.41/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$39,190
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$85,480
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
206,170
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
1.8%
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers median pay.

State
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Construction Laborers
Hawaii
$95,890
$77,110
Alaska
$92,960
$58,060
Illinois
$78,170
$60,690
Washington
$77,520
$57,720
Oregon
$68,530
$50,860
Minnesota
$66,830
$60,260
Wisconsin
$64,250
$56,100
New York
$64,040
$55,930
Massachusetts
$63,840
$63,390
Ohio
$62,990
$56,080
Rhode Island
$62,950
$57,240
California
$62,700
$60,270
New Jersey
$61,410
$64,060
Missouri
$61,390
$56,730
Connecticut
$58,640
$58,290

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers or Construction Laborers?

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn more nationally. The median is $57,020 for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers versus $47,120 for Construction Laborers, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers or Construction Laborers?

Construction Laborers has the better 10-year outlook at 7.3% projected growth, compared to 1.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers or Construction Laborers?

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers at $95,890/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn $95,890 vs. $77,110 for Construction Laborers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborers by take-home payExplore →How to become a cement masons and concrete finishersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →