Cement mason salary: what cement masons actually make
Cement masons earned a median $27.41 an hour ($57,020 a year) in May 2025, across 206,170 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
How much do cement masons make?
The median cement mason earned $27.41 an hour, or $57,020 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 206,170 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $22.60 and $32.15 an hour.
The middle half of cement masons earn between $22.60 and $32.15 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $41.10 ($85,480 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $18.84. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master cement mason pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level cement mason earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master cement mason, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.84 – $22.60 | $39,190 – $47,010 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.60 – $32.15 | $47,010 – $66,870 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $32.15 – $41.10 | $66,870 – $85,480 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
Cement mason pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46.10 | 68% above |
| Alaska | $44.69 | 63% above |
| Illinois | $37.58 | 37% above |
| Washington | $37.27 | 36% above |
| Oregon | $32.95 | 20% above |
| Minnesota | $32.13 | 17% above |
| Wisconsin | $30.89 | 13% above |
| New York | $30.79 | 12% above |
| Massachusetts | $30.69 | 12% above |
| Ohio | $30.28 | 10% above |
| Rhode Island | $30.26 | 10% above |
| California | $30.15 | 10% above |
| District of Columbia | $29.65 | 8% above |
| Montana | $29.63 | 8% above |
| Pennsylvania | $29.62 | 8% above |
| New Jersey | $29.52 | 8% above |
| Missouri | $29.51 | 8% above |
| Indiana | $29.46 | 7% above |
| Nevada | $29.44 | 7% above |
| Vermont | $29.40 | 7% above |
| Colorado | $29.18 | 6% above |
| Michigan | $28.78 | 5% above |
| Arizona | $28.32 | 3% above |
| Connecticut | $28.19 | 3% above |
| Wyoming | $28.10 | 3% above |
| Iowa | $27.99 | 2% above |
| North Dakota | $27.74 | 1% above |
| Delaware | $27.42 | about the same as |
| Utah | $27.13 | 1% below |
| Idaho | $27.12 | 1% below |
| Maine | $26.77 | 2% below |
| New Hampshire | $26.06 | 5% below |
| Kansas | $25.06 | 9% below |
| Maryland | $24.98 | 9% below |
| West Virginia | $24.98 | 9% below |
| Virginia | $24.49 | 11% below |
| Kentucky | $24.14 | 12% below |
| Nebraska | $23.80 | 13% below |
| South Carolina | $23.73 | 13% below |
| New Mexico | $23.67 | 14% below |
| Louisiana | $23.64 | 14% below |
| Florida | $23.40 | 15% below |
| Tennessee | $23.04 | 16% below |
| Texas | $22.84 | 17% below |
| South Dakota | $22.67 | 17% below |
| North Carolina | $22.49 | 18% below |
| Arkansas | $22.23 | 19% below |
| Georgia | $22.23 | 19% below |
| Oklahoma | $22.00 | 20% below |
| Alabama | $21.50 | 22% below |
| Mississippi | $21.14 | 23% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46.10 | $41.91 | #2 | 650 |
| Alaska | $44.69 | $43.64 | #1 | 240 |
| Illinois | $37.58 | $37.58 | #3 | 5,890 |
| Washington | $37.27 | $34.83 | #4 | 4,440 |
| Oregon | $32.95 | $31.87 | #10 | 2,170 |
| Minnesota | $32.13 | $32.59 | #7 | 3,070 |
| Wisconsin | $30.89 | $32.83 | #5 | 4,490 |
| New York | $30.79 | $28.54 | #21 | 9,060 |
| Massachusetts | $30.69 | $29.01 | #20 | 1,590 |
| Ohio | $30.28 | $32.63 | #6 | 6,060 |
| Rhode Island | $30.26 | $29.58 | #18 | 250 |
| California | $30.15 | $27.24 | #30 | 28,700 |
| District of Columbia | $29.65 | $26.98 | #33 | 320 |
| Montana | $29.63 | $31.32 | #12 | 780 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.62 | $30.35 | #14 | 5,180 |
| New Jersey | $29.52 | $27.13 | #32 | 2,390 |
| Missouri | $29.51 | $32.50 | #8 | 6,220 |
| Indiana | $29.46 | $31.58 | #11 | 4,390 |
| Nevada | $29.44 | $29.44 | #19 | 3,290 |
| Vermont | $29.40 | $30.00 | #16 | 270 |
| Colorado | $29.18 | $28.30 | #23 | 5,140 |
| Michigan | $28.78 | $29.92 | #17 | 6,350 |
| Arizona | $28.32 | $28.12 | #24 | 7,520 |
| Connecticut | $28.19 | $27.21 | #31 | 610 |
| Wyoming | $28.10 | $30.31 | #15 | 620 |
| Iowa | $27.99 | $31.88 | #9 | 2,110 |
| North Dakota | $27.74 | $31.17 | #13 | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $27.42 | $27.47 | #28 | 400 |
| Utah | $27.13 | $27.43 | #29 | 5,340 |
| Idaho | $27.12 | $28.40 | #22 | 2,540 |
| Maine | $26.77 | $27.60 | #27 | 730 |
| New Hampshire | $26.06 | $25.01 | #43 | 300 |
| Kansas | $25.06 | $27.81 | #26 | 3,610 |
| Maryland | $24.98 | $23.79 | #48 | 2,540 |
| West Virginia | $24.98 | $27.91 | #25 | 760 |
| Virginia | $24.49 | $24.22 | #45 | 4,020 |
| Kentucky | $24.14 | $26.76 | #35 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $23.80 | $26.42 | #36 | 3,200 |
| South Carolina | $23.73 | $25.33 | #40 | 1,930 |
| New Mexico | $23.67 | $25.67 | #37 | 1,540 |
| Louisiana | $23.64 | $26.80 | #34 | 910 |
| Florida | $23.40 | $22.63 | #51 | 15,240 |
| Tennessee | $23.04 | $25.07 | #41 | 3,920 |
| Texas | $22.84 | $23.52 | #49 | 26,430 |
| South Dakota | $22.67 | $25.59 | #38 | 2,550 |
| North Carolina | $22.49 | $23.85 | #47 | 4,610 |
| Arkansas | $22.23 | $25.58 | #39 | 1,900 |
| Georgia | $22.23 | $23.08 | #50 | 3,400 |
| Oklahoma | $22.00 | $25.06 | #42 | 2,980 |
| Alabama | $21.50 | $24.21 | #46 | 2,110 |
| Mississippi | $21.14 | $24.30 | #44 | 930 |
Cement mason wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.68 | $26.44 | 151,760 |
| 2000 | $13.50 | $25.24 | 169,550 |
| 2001 | $14.25 | $25.90 | 176,590 |
| 2002 | $14.74 | $26.38 | 177,930 |
| 2003 | $14.80 | $25.90 | 180,540 |
| 2004 | $15.10 | $25.73 | 191,690 |
| 2005 | $15.40 | $25.39 | 204,720 |
| 2006 | $15.70 | $25.07 | 218,170 |
| 2007 | $16.27 | $25.26 | 213,850 |
| 2008 | $16.87 | $25.23 | 201,730 |
| 2009 | $17.04 | $25.57 | 165,700 |
| 2010 | $17.04 | $25.16 | 140,950 |
| 2011 | $17.11 | $24.49 | 135,330 |
| 2012 | $17.19 | $24.10 | 135,200 |
| 2013 | $17.37 | $24.01 | 141,910 |
| 2014 | $17.67 | $24.03 | 152,570 |
| 2015 | $18.14 | $24.64 | 163,360 |
| 2016 | $18.84 | $25.27 | 173,920 |
| 2017 | $19.54 | $25.66 | 178,640 |
| 2018 | $20.67 | $26.50 | 186,400 |
| 2019 | $21.54 | $27.12 | 196,120 |
| 2020 | $22.12 | $27.52 | 195,580 |
| 2021 | $22.76 | $27.04 | 186,600 |
| 2022 | $23.22 | $25.54 | 196,730 |
| 2023 | $24.38 | $25.76 | 203,560 |
| 2024 | $26.28 | $26.97 | 205,230 |
| 2025 | $27.41 | $27.41 | 206,170 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median cement mason wage changed by +11.2% over the last ten years and by +1.1% since 2019.
Are there more cement mason jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 206,170 cement masons in May 2025, +26.2% compared with 163,360 ten years earlier and +5.1% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 151,760 |
| 2000 | 169,550 |
| 2001 | 176,590 |
| 2002 | 177,930 |
| 2003 | 180,540 |
| 2004 | 191,690 |
| 2005 | 204,720 |
| 2006 | 218,170 |
| 2007 | 213,850 |
| 2008 | 201,730 |
| 2009 | 165,700 |
| 2010 | 140,950 |
| 2011 | 135,330 |
| 2012 | 135,200 |
| 2013 | 141,910 |
| 2014 | 152,570 |
| 2015 | 163,360 |
| 2016 | 173,920 |
| 2017 | 178,640 |
| 2018 | 186,400 |
| 2019 | 196,120 |
| 2020 | 195,580 |
| 2021 | 186,600 |
| 2022 | 196,730 |
| 2023 | 203,560 |
| 2024 | 205,230 |
| 2025 | 206,170 |
Of the 18 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 15 counted more cement masons in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Utah (+76.8%, 3,020 to 5,340); the weakest was Minnesota (-35.0%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 3,020 | 5,340 | +76.8% | +14.6% |
| Michigan | 3,660 | 6,350 | +73.5% | +20.5% |
| Missouri | 3,890 | 6,220 | +59.9% | +52.8% |
| Arizona | 5,000 | 7,520 | +50.4% | +15.5% |
| California | 19,680 | 28,700 | +45.8% | +1.9% |
| New York | 6,320 | 9,060 | +43.4% | +51.0% |
| Texas | 18,620 | 26,430 | +41.9% | +22.6% |
| Florida | 11,130 | 15,240 | +36.9% | -0.7% |
| Washington | 3,330 | 4,440 | +33.3% | -4.9% |
| Ohio | 4,840 | 6,060 | +25.2% | -5.2% |
| Illinois | 4,930 | 5,890 | +19.5% | +9.9% |
| North Carolina | 4,120 | 4,610 | +11.9% | -5.5% |
| Colorado | 4,610 | 5,140 | +11.5% | -1.2% |
| Indiana | 4,160 | 4,390 | +5.5% | -7.0% |
| Wisconsin | 4,360 | 4,490 | +3.0% | -19.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 5,240 | 5,180 | -1.1% | +27.6% |
| Virginia | 4,380 | 4,020 | -8.2% | -2.2% |
| Minnesota | 4,720 | 3,070 | -35.0% | -26.4% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the cement mason jobs are
South Dakota has the highest concentration of cement masons, 4.2× the national share, followed by Nebraska (2.4×) and Utah (2.3×). The lowest is Connecticut at 0.3×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 2,550 | 5.6 | 4.2× |
| Nebraska | 3,200 | 3.1 | 2.4× |
| Utah | 5,340 | 3.1 | 2.3× |
| Idaho | 2,540 | 3.0 | 2.2× |
| North Dakota | 1,190 | 2.8 | 2.1× |
| Kansas | 3,610 | 2.5 | 1.9× |
| Arizona | 7,520 | 2.3 | 1.8× |
| Wyoming | 620 | 2.2 | 1.7× |
| Missouri | 6,220 | 2.1 | 1.6× |
| Nevada | 3,290 | 2.1 | 1.6× |
| Texas | 26,430 | 1.9 | 1.4× |
| Colorado | 5,140 | 1.8 | 1.4× |
| New Mexico | 1,540 | 1.8 | 1.3× |
| Oklahoma | 2,980 | 1.8 | 1.3× |
| California | 28,700 | 1.6 | 1.2× |
| Florida | 15,240 | 1.5 | 1.2× |
| Montana | 780 | 1.5 | 1.1× |
| Wisconsin | 4,490 | 1.5 | 1.1× |
| Arkansas | 1,900 | 1.5 | 1.1× |
| Michigan | 6,350 | 1.4 | 1.1× |
| Indiana | 4,390 | 1.4 | 1.0× |
| Iowa | 2,110 | 1.4 | 1.0× |
| Washington | 4,440 | 1.2 | 0.9× |
| Tennessee | 3,920 | 1.2 | 0.9× |
| Maine | 730 | 1.1 | 0.9× |
| Oregon | 2,170 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Ohio | 6,060 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| West Virginia | 760 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Minnesota | 3,070 | 1.0 | 0.8× |
| Hawaii | 650 | 1.0 | 0.8× |
| Alabama | 2,110 | 1.0 | 0.8× |
| Virginia | 4,020 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| Illinois | 5,890 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| New York | 9,060 | 0.9 | 0.7× |
| North Carolina | 4,610 | 0.9 | 0.7× |
| Maryland | 2,540 | 0.9 | 0.7× |
| Vermont | 270 | 0.9 | 0.7× |
| Pennsylvania | 5,180 | 0.8 | 0.6× |
| South Carolina | 1,930 | 0.8 | 0.6× |
| Delaware | 400 | 0.8 | 0.6× |
| Mississippi | 930 | 0.8 | 0.6× |
| Alaska | 240 | 0.7 | 0.6× |
| Georgia | 3,400 | 0.7 | 0.5× |
| Kentucky | 1,280 | 0.6 | 0.5× |
| New Jersey | 2,390 | 0.6 | 0.4× |
| Rhode Island | 250 | 0.5 | 0.4× |
| District of Columbia | 320 | 0.5 | 0.3× |
| Louisiana | 910 | 0.5 | 0.3× |
| Massachusetts | 1,590 | 0.4 | 0.3× |
| New Hampshire | 300 | 0.4 | 0.3× |
| Connecticut | 610 | 0.4 | 0.3× |
Metros with the most cement mason jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 8,390 | $31.57 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,920 | $23.45 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,810 | $30.67 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 7,700 | $22.40 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,120 | $28.49 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,740 | $28.63 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,890 | $38.95 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,820 | $23.49 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 2,950 | $29.93 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,810 | $28.05 |
Highest-paying metros for cement masons
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $46.28 | $41.69 | #1 | $52.35 | 500 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38.95 | $37.60 | #2 | $52.35 | 3,890 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $38.88 | $35.00 | #4 | $63.77 | 2,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $36.53 | $31.60 | #16 | $58.03 | 2,420 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $36.31 | $32.89 | #8 | $57.19 | 1,500 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $36.10 | $34.25 | #5 | $47.80 | 1,410 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35.93 | $37.08 | #3 | $46.61 | 930 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $34.98 | $33.38 | #7 | $48.65 | 1,880 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $31.98 | $28.58 | #26 | $49.41 | 2,330 |
| Cleveland, OH | $31.77 | $33.83 | #6 | $41.30 | 900 |
| Madison, WI | $31.69 | $32.57 | #11 | $44.46 | 570 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $31.57 | $28.04 | #30 | $50.92 | 8,390 |
| Columbus, OH | $31.21 | $32.68 | #10 | $40.41 | 1,000 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31.09 | $32.69 | #9 | $47.32 | 2,550 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $30.81 | $27.88 | #33 | $46.39 | 580 |
Metros with at least 500 cement masons. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 77 metros with a parity.
Union scale and prevailing wage for cement masons
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for cement masons in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 100% | $90.05 | — | 8/14 |
| New Jersey | 100% | $86.63 | — | 21/21 |
| Connecticut | 88% | $82.50 | $29.36 | 8/8 |
| Maine | 6% | $80.22 | $19.95 | 16/16 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $77.75 | — | 5/5 |
| Washington | 87% | $75.43 | $21.94 | 39/39 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $73.85 | — | 5/5 |
| Alaska | 100% | $71.56 | — | 30/30 |
| Delaware | 100% | $68.97 | — | 3/3 |
| Oregon | 92% | $66.44 | $48.25 | 36/36 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $65.09 | — | 64/72 |
| New York | 70% | $63.68 | $49.95 | 47/62 |
| Illinois | 100% | $62.64 | — | 101/102 |
| West Virginia | 100% | $61.43 | — | 37/55 |
| Kansas | 5% | $60.63 | $21.34 | 105/105 |
| Idaho | 11% | $59.53 | $25.31 | 44/44 |
| Iowa | 34% | $58.38 | $18.72 | 97/99 |
| California | 91% | $55.42 | $24.09 | 58/58 |
| Missouri | 51% | $53.88 | $26.36 | 115/115 |
| North Dakota | 98% | $53.73 | $21.97 | 53/53 |
| Pennsylvania | 57% | $53.66 | $36.47 | 67/67 |
| Ohio | 46% | $52.52 | $38.41 | 84/88 |
| Colorado | 78% | $49.88 | $27.09 | 64/64 |
| Kentucky | 30% | $49.65 | $30.97 | 120/120 |
| Indiana | 94% | $49.30 | $11.04 | 89/92 |
| South Dakota | 52% | $48.09 | $32.52 | 66/66 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $44.73 | — | 1/1 |
| South Carolina | 9% | $38.75 | $14.77 | 23/46 |
| Louisiana | 31% | $38.44 | $18.80 | 35/64 |
| Michigan | 88% | $35.48 | $21.63 | 83/83 |
| Alabama | 0% | — | $17.62 | 67/67 |
| Arkansas | 0% | — | $19.14 | 75/75 |
| Arizona | 0% | — | $21.00 | 15/15 |
| Florida | 0% | — | $15.45 | 67/67 |
| Georgia | 0% | — | $12.89 | 159/159 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $33.03 | 12/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $71.52 | 87/87 |
| Mississippi | 0% | — | $20.00 | 82/82 |
| Montana | 0% | — | $19.77 | 52/56 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $14.02 | 100/100 |
| Nebraska | 0% | — | $19.14 | 93/93 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | — | $30.69 | 10/10 |
| New Mexico | 0% | — | $21.44 | 33/33 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $60.92 | 17/17 |
| Oklahoma | 0% | — | $16.10 | 77/77 |
| Tennessee | 0% | — | $19.00 | 95/95 |
| Texas | 0% | — | $13.27 | 254/254 |
| Utah | 0% | — | $21.11 | 29/29 |
| Virginia | 0% | — | $17.48 | 50/133 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $28.41 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of cement masons to change by +1.6% over 2025-35, from 204,800 to 208,100, with about 13,600 openings a year.
Of those openings, 300 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 13,300 from replacement: 4,400 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 8,900 for people who move to another occupation.
Sourcing change - share decreases as more precast and prefabricated concrete products are installed and fewer workers are needed onsite to build forms and pour concrete.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: no formal educational credential; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Idaho projects the fastest growth for cement masons at +20.2%; by openings, California (2,070 a year), Texas (1,730 a year), Florida (1,280 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 4,400 | 5,280 | +20.2% | 410 |
| Arizona | 6,690 | 7,870 | +17.7% | 600 |
| Colorado | 5,160 | 6,000 | +16.5% | 470 |
| Wyoming | 530 | 600 | +14.1% | 40 |
| Florida | 15,180 | 17,240 | +13.6% | 1,280 |
| West Virginia | 730 | 830 | +13.3% | 60 |
| Tennessee | 3,920 | 4,400 | +12.2% | 320 |
| Delaware | 470 | 520 | +9.9% | 40 |
| South Dakota | 2,210 | 2,420 | +9.8% | 180 |
| Utah | 5,710 | 6,220 | +9.0% | 450 |
| Montana | 860 | 930 | +8.4% | 70 |
| Nevada | 3,080 | 3,330 | +8.1% | 240 |
| Oregon | 2,630 | 2,840 | +8.0% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | 4,520 | 4,850 | +7.2% | 340 |
| Alabama | 2,060 | 2,210 | +7.1% | 160 |
| Nebraska | 3,440 | 3,670 | +6.8% | 260 |
| Georgia | 2,590 | 2,760 | +6.5% | 200 |
| North Dakota | 1,280 | 1,360 | +5.7% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | 400 | 420 | +4.7% | 30 |
| Texas | 23,820 | 24,930 | +4.7% | 1,730 |
| Connecticut | 700 | 730 | +4.6% | 50 |
| Mississippi | 1,080 | 1,130 | +4.6% | 80 |
| New Mexico | 1,490 | 1,550 | +4.3% | 110 |
| Kentucky | 1,570 | 1,630 | +4.1% | 110 |
| Iowa | 2,630 | 2,720 | +3.7% | 190 |
| South Carolina | 1,770 | 1,840 | +3.7% | 130 |
| Missouri | 3,850 | 3,990 | +3.6% | 280 |
| New Jersey | 3,850 | 3,980 | +3.5% | 270 |
| Arkansas | 2,540 | 2,630 | +3.3% | 180 |
| Rhode Island | 250 | 260 | +3.2% | 20 |
| California | 29,200 | 30,100 | +3.1% | 2,070 |
| Massachusetts | 1,670 | 1,720 | +2.9% | 120 |
| Vermont | 280 | 280 | +2.9% | 20 |
| Indiana | 4,710 | 4,840 | +2.8% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,340 | 4,460 | +2.8% | 300 |
| Hawaii | 800 | 820 | +2.4% | 60 |
| Maryland | 2,550 | 2,620 | +2.4% | 180 |
| Illinois | 6,370 | 6,500 | +2.1% | 440 |
| Kansas | 3,820 | 3,900 | +2.1% | 260 |
| North Carolina | 4,240 | 4,330 | +2.1% | 290 |
| Ohio | 5,800 | 5,890 | +1.6% | 400 |
| Louisiana | 990 | 1,000 | +1.3% | 70 |
| District of Columbia | 210 | 210 | +0.9% | 10 |
| Minnesota | 3,990 | 4,020 | +0.7% | 270 |
| Oklahoma | 2,800 | 2,810 | +0.5% | 190 |
| Virginia | 4,770 | 4,790 | +0.5% | 360 |
| Michigan | 5,700 | 5,670 | -0.5% | 380 |
| Washington | 5,370 | 5,320 | -0.9% | 340 |
| Alaska | 240 | 230 | -3.8% | 20 |
| New York | 10,090 | 9,570 | -5.1% | 600 |
| Maine | 460 | 440 | -6.0% | 30 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare cement mason pay with other trades
See how cement mason pay compares with other trades on the ranking of all trades and the comparison pages.
Questions this page answers
How much do cement masons make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $18.84 at the 10th percentile to $41.10 at the 90th, with a median of $27.41. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice cement mason make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $18.84 to $22.60 an hour ($39,190 to $47,010 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays cement masons the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $46.10 an hour in May 2025, followed by Alaska ($44.69) and Illinois ($37.58). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are cement mason wages going up?
In today's dollars the median cement mason wage changed by +11.2% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $18.14 to $27.41.
Is cement mason a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $57,020 a year, a 90th percentile of $85,480, projected growth of +1.6% and about 13,600 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Are cement mason jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 206,170 cement masons in May 2025, +26.2% compared with ten years earlier and +5.1% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +1.6% growth over 2025-35 with about 13,600 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most cement masons?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put California (2,070 a year, +3.1% growth), Texas (1,730 a year, +4.7% growth), Florida (1,280 a year, +13.6% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are cement masons most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, South Dakota has the highest concentration at 4.2× the national share, then Nebraska (2.4×) and Utah (2.3×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2051 (Cement masons and concrete finishers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.