Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Salary
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers in North Carolina make a median of $46,780 a year, or about $22.49 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $50,486 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 39.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in North Carolina?
About cement masons and concrete finishers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for cement masons and concrete finishers in North Carolina runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $57K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 41.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for cement masons and concrete finisherss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level cement masons and concrete finishers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers salary by metro in North Carolina
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $48K | +3% | 1,390 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $47K | +1% | 870 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $46K | -2% | 440 |
| Jacksonville | $46K | -2% | 50 |
| Burlington | $45K | -3% | 110 |
| Asheville | $45K | -4% | 140 |
| Winston-Salem | $45K | -4% | 210 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $45K | -5% | 70 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $44K | -5% | 140 |
| Wilmington | $44K | -6% | 150 |
| Greenville | $39K | -16% | 50 |
| Fayetteville | $38K | -20% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cement masons and concrete finisher afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 41.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cement masons and concrete finishers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cement masons and concrete finishers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,225/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cement masons and concrete finisher a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $47K here vs. $57K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for cement masons and concrete finishers?
North Carolina pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do cement masons and concrete finishers make in North Carolina?
The median is $46,780 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,090, and experienced cement masons and concrete finishers can clear $60,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,127/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 41.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cement masons and concrete finishers salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cement masons and concrete finishers salary is worth about $50,486 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cement masons and concrete finishers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.