Skilled Wages

Cement mason salary in Illinois

Median $37.58 an hour for 5,890 cement masons, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$37.58/hrMedian hourly wageIllinois, May data
$78,170/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.58 – $51.7710th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,890Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Cement mason pay in Illinois: the full range

Wage percentiles, IllinoisMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIllinois: 10th $23.58 · 25th $27.82 · median $37.58 · 75th $47.56 · 90th $51.77Illinois$37.58$23.58$51.77United States: 10th $18.84 · 25th $22.60 · median $27.41 · 75th $32.15 · 90th $41.10United States$27.41
Hourly wage percentiles for cement masons: Illinois vs United States, May 2025.

Illinois ranks 3rd of 51 states for median cement mason pay, and 3rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $37.58). 5,890 cement masons work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$23.58 – $27.82$49,050 – $57,860roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$27.82 – $47.56$57,860 – $98,930the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$47.56 – $51.77$98,930 – $107,670the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Cement mason pay by metro in Illinois

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrChicago: $38.95Chicago$38.95Rockford: $36.21Rockford$36.21Champaign: $35.90Champaign$35.90Peoria: $34.94Peoria$34.94Kankakee: $31.31Kankakee$31.31St. Louis: $31.09St. Louis$31.09Springfield: $30.44Springfield$30.44Bloomington: $29.51Bloomington$29.51Davenport: $29.17Davenport$29.17Cape Girardeau: $27.97Cape Girardeau$27.97Paducah: $25.64Paducah$25.64
Median hourly wage for cement masons by metro area in Illinois, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Chicago$24.39$38.95$37.60$52.353,8904% above
Rockford$23.00$36.21$39.27$50.101404% below
Champaign$22.55$35.90$38.73$41.161104% below
Peoria$22.47$34.94$38.31$47.222207% below
Kankakee$22.16$31.31$32.48$50.404017% below
St. Louis$22.71$31.09$32.69$47.322,55017% below
Springfield$22.93$30.44$32.84$41.4410019% below
Bloomington$21.86$29.51$31.56$40.2811021% below
Davenport$21.58$29.17$32.74$38.0822022% below
Cape Girardeau$20.52$27.97$32.49$36.027026% below
Paducah$18.00$25.64$29.78$33.854032% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Cement mason wages in Illinois over time

Illinois, 1999-2025IllinoisUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$37.58Illinois$27.41United States
Median hourly wage for cement masons, Illinois vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIllinois $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$23.64$45.68$13.686,300
2000$22.76$42.55$13.505,850
2001$24.61$44.74$14.256,630
2002$24.49$43.83$14.747,650
2003$23.43$41.00$14.807,090
2004$21.18$36.10$15.108,350
2005$21.60$35.61$15.407,810
2006$22.04$35.20$15.708,160
2007$28.34$44.00$16.277,070
2008$28.12$42.05$16.877,450
2009$27.75$41.64$17.046,680
2010$25.57$37.75$17.047,130
2011$25.81$36.94$17.117,030
2012$28.37$39.78$17.196,680
2013$28.55$39.46$17.376,010
2014$26.36$35.85$17.675,270
2015$26.87$36.50$18.144,930
2016$29.37$39.40$18.844,570
2017$35.50$46.63$19.545,280
2018$33.28$42.67$20.675,740
2019$34.26$43.14$21.545,360
2020$32.33$40.22$22.125,930
2021$36.51$43.38$22.766,430
2022$38.85$42.74$23.227,250
2023$35.59$37.60$24.386,450
2024$37.23$38.21$26.285,980
2025$37.58$37.58$27.415,890

In today's dollars, the median cement mason wage in Illinois changed by +3.0% over the last ten years of data and by -12.9% since 2019.

Are there more cement mason jobs in Illinois?

+9.9%Jobs since 20195,360 then, 5,890 in 2025
+19.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 33rd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of cement masons counted in Illinois has changed by -6.5%, against +35.9% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +9.9%.

Cement masons and concrete finishers in Illinois vs United States, 1999 = 100IllinoisUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025136United States94Illinois
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Illinois vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearIllinois jobsIllinois indexUS index
19996,300100100
20005,85093112
20016,630105116
20027,650121117
20037,090112119
20048,350132126
20057,810124135
20068,160130144
20077,070112141
20087,450118133
20096,680106109
20107,13011393
20117,03011289
20126,68010689
20136,0109594
20145,27084100
20154,93078108
20164,57072115
20175,28084118
20185,74091123
20195,36085129
20205,93094129
20216,430102123
20227,250115130
20236,450102134
20245,98095135
20255,89094136

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.

Outlook for cement masons in Illinois

+2.1%Projected growth in Illinois2024–2034, state agency
440Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,370Jobs in 20246,500 projected for 2034
+1.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Illinois's labor market agency projects the number of cement masons in the state to change by +2.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,370 to 6,500, with about 440 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +1.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,890 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Illinois labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for cement masons in Illinois

On federally funded construction in Illinois, contractors must pay cement masons at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 101 of the 101 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $62.64 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $37.58.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ILAdams: $62.64 (union)Alexander: $58.69 (union)Bond: $62.64 (union)Boone: $62.64 (union)Brown: $62.64 (union)Bureau: $62.64 (union)Calhoun: $62.64 (union)Carroll: $62.64 (union)Cass: $62.64 (union)Champaign: $58.69 (union)Christian: $58.69 (union)Clark: $58.69 (union)Clay: $58.69 (union)Clinton: $62.64 (union)Coles: $58.69 (union)Cook: $96.90 (union)Crawford: $58.69 (union)Cumberland: $58.69 (union)DeKalb: $62.64 (union)De Witt: $58.69 (union)Douglas: $58.69 (union)DuPage: $91.32 (union)Edgar: $58.69 (union)Edwards: $58.69 (union)Effingham: $58.69 (union)Fayette: $58.69 (union)Ford: $58.69 (union)Franklin: $58.69 (union)Fulton: $62.64 (union)Gallatin: $58.69 (union)Greene: $62.64 (union)Grundy: $91.32 (union)Hamilton: $58.69 (union)Hancock: $62.64 (union)Hardin: $58.69 (union)Henderson: $62.64 (union)Henry: $62.64 (union)Iroquois: $58.69 (union)Jackson: $58.69 (union)Jasper: $58.69 (union)Jefferson: $58.69 (union)Jersey: $62.64 (union)Jo Daviess: $62.64 (union)Johnson: $58.69 (union)Kane: $91.32 (union)Kankakee: n/aKendall: $91.32 (union)Knox: $62.64 (union)Lake: $91.32 (union)LaSalle: $62.64 (union)Lawrence: $58.69 (union)Lee: $62.64 (union)Livingston: $62.64 (union)Logan: $62.64 (union)McDonough: $62.64 (union)McHenry: $91.32 (union)McLean: $62.64 (union)Macon: $53.98 (union)Macoupin: $62.64 (union)Madison: $69.60 (union)Marion: $58.69 (union)Marshall: $62.64 (union)Mason: $62.64 (union)Massac: $58.69 (union)Menard: $62.64 (union)Mercer: $62.64 (union)Monroe: $62.64 (union)Montgomery: $62.64 (union)Morgan: $62.64 (union)Moultrie: $58.69 (union)Ogle: $62.64 (union)Peoria: $61.81 (union)Perry: $58.69 (union)Piatt: $58.69 (union)Pike: $62.64 (union)Pope: $58.69 (union)Pulaski: $58.69 (union)Putnam: $62.64 (union)Randolph: $62.64 (union)Richland: $58.69 (union)Rock Island: $62.64 (union)St. Clair: $69.60 (union)Saline: $58.69 (union)Sangamon: $50.44 (union)Schuyler: $62.64 (union)Scott: $62.64 (union)Shelby: $58.69 (union)Stark: $62.64 (union)Stephenson: $62.64 (union)Tazewell: $61.81 (union)Union: $58.69 (union)Vermilion: $58.69 (union)Wabash: $58.69 (union)Warren: $62.64 (union)Washington: $62.64 (union)Wayne: $58.69 (union)White: $58.69 (union)Whiteside: $62.64 (union)Will: $91.32 (union)Williamson: $58.69 (union)Winnebago: $62.64 (union)Woodford: $62.64 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$58.69$62.64n/a
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for cement masons by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$0$25$50$75$100$125/hrCook (Chicago): market median $38.95, prevailing (union) $96.90, gap +$57.95Cook (Chicago)+$57.95Madison (St. Louis): market median $31.09, prevailing (union) $69.60, gap +$38.51Madison (St. Louis)+$38.51Henry (Davenport): market median $29.17, prevailing (union) $62.64, gap +$33.47Henry (Davenport)+$33.47McLean (Bloomington): market median $29.51, prevailing (union) $62.64, gap +$33.13McLean (Bloomington)+$33.13Massac (Paducah): market median $25.64, prevailing (union) $58.69, gap +$33.05Massac (Paducah)+$33.05Menard (Springfield): market median $30.44, prevailing (union) $62.64, gap +$32.20Menard (Springfield)+$32.20Alexander (Cape Girardeau): market median $27.97, prevailing (union) $58.69, gap +$30.72Alexander (Cape Girardeau)+$30.72Marshall (Peoria): market median $34.94, prevailing (union) $62.64, gap +$27.70Marshall (Peoria)+$27.70Boone (Rockford): market median $36.21, prevailing (union) $62.64, gap +$26.43Boone (Rockford)+$26.43Champaign (Champaign): market median $35.90, prevailing (union) $58.69, gap +$22.79Champaign (Champaign)+$22.79Macon (Illinois): market median $37.58, prevailing (union) $53.98, gap +$16.40Macon (Illinois)+$16.40
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for cement masons, metro counties in Illinois.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
CookUnion PLAS0502-001 2025-06-01$53.10$43.80$96.90IL20260009
DuPageUnion PLAS0011-014 2023-06-01$48.50$42.82$91.32IL20260008
GrundyUnion PLAS0011-014 2023-06-01$48.50$42.82$91.32IL20260008
KaneUnion PLAS0011-014 2023-06-01$48.50$42.82$91.32IL20260008
KendallUnion PLAS0011-014 2023-06-01$48.50$42.82$91.32IL20260008
LakeUnion PLAS0011-014 2023-06-01$48.50$42.82$91.32IL20260008
McHenryUnion PLAS0011-014 2023-06-01$48.50$42.82$91.32IL20260008
WillUnion PLAS0011-014 2023-06-01$48.50$42.82$91.32IL20260008
MadisonUnion PLAS0090-003 2024-08-01$39.00$30.60$69.60IL20260007
St. ClairUnion PLAS0090-003 2024-08-01$39.00$30.60$69.60IL20260007
AdamsUnion PLAS0018-035 2026-05-01$33.21$29.43$62.64IL20260001
BondUnion PLAS0018-035 2026-05-01$33.21$29.43$62.64IL20260001
BooneUnion PLAS0018-035 2026-05-01$33.21$29.43$62.64IL20260001
BrownUnion PLAS0018-035 2026-05-01$33.21$29.43$62.64IL20260001
BureauUnion PLAS0018-035 2026-05-01$33.21$29.43$62.64IL20260001

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Illinois prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Illinois?

268.8kConstruction jobsIllinois, 2026-09
+6.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025269kSep 2026
Construction employment in Illinois (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Cement mason pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Illinois

More on Illinois

Questions this page answers

How much do cement masons make in Illinois?

The median cement mason in Illinois earned $37.58 an hour ($78,170 a year) in May 2025, 37% above the national median of $27.41. The middle half earn $27.82–$47.56; the top 10% earn more than $51.77.

Where does Illinois rank for cement mason pay?

Illinois ranks 3rd of 51 states for cement mason pay, with a median of $37.58 an hour, and 3rd after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.0, US = 100).

What is the union cement mason rate in Illinois?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for cement masons in 101 counties, with a typical package of $62.64 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many cement masons work in Illinois?

BLS counted 5,890 cement masons in Illinois in May 2025, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.73; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is cement mason work growing in Illinois?

The BLS employer survey count of cement masons in Illinois went from 4,930 in 2015 to 5,890 in 2025, +19.5%, and +9.9% since 2019. Illinois's labor market agency projects +2.1% growth for cement masons between 2024 and 2034, from 6,370 to 6,500 jobs.

How many cement mason openings a year are there in Illinois?

Illinois projects about 440 openings a year for cement masons over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 13,600 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Illinois and metro areas, SOC 47-2051. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Illinois labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.