Skilled Wages

Cement mason salary in Kentucky

Median $24.14 an hour for 1,280 cement masons, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.14/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$50,200/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.02 – $32.4710th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,280Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Cement mason pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrKentucky: 10th $18.02 · 25th $21.42 · median $24.14 · 75th $29.67 · 90th $32.47Kentucky$24.14$18.02$32.47United 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: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 37th of 51 states for median cement mason pay, and 35th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.76). 1,280 cement masons work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.02 – $21.42$37,490 – $44,550roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.42 – $29.67$44,550 – $61,720the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.67 – $32.47$61,720 – $67,530the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Cement mason pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrCincinnati: $30.28Cincinnati$30.28Huntington: $27.03Huntington$27.03Paducah: $25.64Paducah$25.64Louisville: $25.34Louisville$25.34Lexington: $24.92Lexington$24.92Bowling Green: $23.74Bowling Green$23.74Clarksville: $23.05Clarksville$23.05
Median hourly wage for cement masons by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$21.60$30.28$31.74$38.391,41025% above
Huntington$18.09$27.03$30.58$31.4711012% above
Paducah$18.00$25.64$29.78$33.85406% above
Louisville$18.51$25.34$27.22$34.966105% above
Lexington$18.02$24.92$26.82$35.501103% above
Bowling Green$18.36$23.74$26.32$29.52502% below
Clarksville$18.03$23.05$25.36$27.011305% below

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

Cement mason wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$27.41United States$24.14Kentucky
Median hourly wage for cement masons, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.06$27.17$13.681,580
2000$12.58$23.52$13.502,020
2001$12.76$23.20$14.251,920
2002$13.18$23.59$14.741,870
2003$12.95$22.66$14.802,010
2004$13.55$23.09$15.101,860
2005$13.59$22.40$15.402,180
2006$14.44$23.06$15.702,630
2007$14.19$22.03$16.272,420
2008$14.72$22.01$16.872,270
2009$14.43$21.65$17.041,520
2010$15.28$22.56$17.041,300
2011$14.57$20.85$17.111,350
2012$14.12$19.80$17.191,220
2013$14.27$19.72$17.371,470
2014$15.08$20.51$17.671,770
2015$16.77$22.78$18.142,170
2016$17.25$23.14$18.842,240
2017$17.27$22.68$19.541,660
2018$18.42$23.62$20.672,060
2019$18.03$22.70$21.542,350
2020$18.26$22.71$22.122,490
2021$18.19$21.61$22.761,960
2022$21.91$24.10$23.222,100
2023$23.00$24.30$24.381,880
2024$23.95$24.58$26.281,540
2025$24.14$24.14$27.411,280

In today's dollars, the median cement mason wage in Kentucky changed by +6.0% over the last ten years of data and by +6.3% since 2019.

Are there more cement mason jobs in Kentucky?

0.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.5× the US share, 44th of 51 states

BLS counted 1,280 cement masons in Kentucky in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 11%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for cement masons in Kentucky

+4.1%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
110Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,570Jobs in 20241,630 projected for 2034
+1.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of cement masons in the state to change by +4.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,570 to 1,630, with about 110 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +1.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,280 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for cement masons in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay cement masons at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 36 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $49.65 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $30.97). 84 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adair County at $27.99). The market median for the state is $24.14.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $27.99 (survey)Allen: $30.12 (survey)Anderson: $31.82 (survey)Ballard: $32.50 (survey)Barren: $27.99 (survey)Bath: $31.82 (survey)Bell: $49.65 (union)Boone: $49.65 (union)Bourbon: $49.65 (union)Boyd: $49.65 (union)Boyle: $31.82 (survey)Bracken: $49.65 (union)Breathitt: $49.65 (union)Breckinridge: $32.50 (survey)Bullitt: $29.91 (survey)Butler: $30.12 (survey)Caldwell: $32.50 (survey)Calloway: $32.50 (survey)Campbell: $49.65 (union)Carlisle: $32.50 (survey)Carroll: $31.82 (survey)Carter: $49.65 (union)Casey: $27.99 (survey)Christian: $30.12 (survey)Clark: $49.65 (union)Clay: $49.65 (union)Clinton: $27.99 (survey)Crittenden: $32.50 (survey)Cumberland: $27.99 (survey)Daviess: $30.12 (survey)Edmonson: $30.12 (survey)Elliott: $49.65 (union)Estill: $31.82 (survey)Fayette: $49.65 (union)Fleming: $31.82 (survey)Floyd: $49.65 (union)Franklin: $31.82 (survey)Fulton: $32.50 (survey)Gallatin: $49.65 (union)Garrard: $31.82 (survey)Grant: $49.65 (union)Graves: $32.50 (survey)Grayson: $32.50 (survey)Green: $27.99 (survey)Greenup: $49.65 (union)Hancock: $30.12 (survey)Hardin: $29.91 (survey)Harlan: $49.65 (union)Harrison: $31.82 (survey)Hart: $27.99 (survey)Henderson: $30.12 (survey)Henry: $29.91 (survey)Hickman: $32.50 (survey)Hopkins: $32.50 (survey)Jackson: $49.65 (union)Jefferson: $29.91 (survey)Jessamine: $49.65 (union)Johnson: $49.65 (union)Kenton: $49.65 (union)Knott: $49.65 (union)Knox: $27.99 (survey)Larue: $29.91 (survey)Laurel: $27.99 (survey)Lawrence: $49.65 (union)Lee: $49.65 (union)Leslie: $49.65 (union)Letcher: $49.65 (union)Lewis: $31.82 (survey)Lincoln: $31.82 (survey)Livingston: $32.50 (survey)Logan: $27.99 (survey)Lyon: $32.50 (survey)McCracken: $32.50 (survey)McCreary: $27.99 (survey)McLean: $30.12 (survey)Madison: $31.82 (survey)Magoffin: $49.65 (union)Marion: $27.99 (survey)Marshall: $32.50 (survey)Martin: $49.65 (union)Mason: $31.82 (survey)Meade: $29.91 (survey)Menifee: $31.82 (survey)Mercer: $31.82 (survey)Metcalfe: $27.99 (survey)Monroe: $27.99 (survey)Montgomery: $31.82 (survey)Morgan: $49.65 (union)Muhlenberg: $32.50 (survey)Nelson: $29.91 (survey)Nicholas: $31.82 (survey)Ohio: $32.50 (survey)Oldham: $29.91 (survey)Owen: $31.82 (survey)Owsley: $49.65 (union)Pendleton: $49.65 (union)Perry: $49.65 (union)Pike: $49.65 (union)Powell: $31.82 (survey)Pulaski: $27.99 (survey)Robertson: $31.82 (survey)Rockcastle: $31.82 (survey)Rowan: $31.82 (survey)Russell: $27.99 (survey)Scott: $49.65 (union)Shelby: $29.91 (survey)Simpson: $27.99 (survey)Spencer: $29.91 (survey)Taylor: $27.99 (survey)Todd: $32.50 (survey)Trigg: $30.12 (survey)Trimble: $29.91 (survey)Union: $32.50 (survey)Warren: $30.12 (survey)Washington: $31.82 (survey)Wayne: $27.99 (survey)Webster: $30.12 (survey)Whitley: $27.99 (survey)Wolfe: $49.65 (union)Woodford: $49.65 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$29.91$31.82$32.50survey rate
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)Prevailing (survey)$20$30$40$50$60/hrBourbon (Lexington): market median $24.92, prevailing (union) $49.65, gap +$24.73Bourbon (Lexington)+$24.73Boyd (Huntington): market median $27.03, prevailing (union) $49.65, gap +$22.62Boyd (Huntington)+$22.62Boone (Cincinnati): market median $30.28, prevailing (union) $49.65, gap +$19.37Boone (Cincinnati)+$19.37Christian (Clarksville): market median $23.05, prevailing (survey) $30.12, gap +$7.07Christian (Clarksville)+$7.07Ballard (Paducah): market median $25.64, prevailing (survey) $32.50, gap +$6.86Ballard (Paducah)+$6.86Allen (Bowling Green): market median $23.74, prevailing (survey) $30.12, gap +$6.38Allen (Bowling Green)+$6.38Daviess (Kentucky): market median $24.14, prevailing (survey) $30.12, gap +$5.98Daviess (Kentucky)+$5.98Bullitt (Louisville): market median $25.34, prevailing (survey) $29.91, gap +$4.57Bullitt (Louisville)+$4.57
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for cement masons, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BellUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260019
BooneUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260044
BourbonUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260100
BoydUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260101
BrackenUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260102
BreathittUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260043
CampbellUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260088
CarterUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260022
ClarkUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260100
ClayUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260043
ElliottUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260043
FayetteUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260090
FloydUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260043
GallatinUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260102
GrantUnion PLAS0132-015 2025-06-01$33.60$16.05$49.65KY20260102

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

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Cement mason pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do cement masons make in Kentucky?

The median cement mason in Kentucky earned $24.14 an hour ($50,200 a year) in May 2025, 12% below the national median of $27.41. The middle half earn $21.42–$29.67; the top 10% earn more than $32.47.

Where does Kentucky rank for cement mason pay?

Kentucky ranks 37th of 51 states for cement mason pay, with a median of $24.14 an hour, and 35th after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union cement mason rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for cement masons in 36 counties, with a typical package of $49.65 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many cement masons work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 1,280 cement masons in Kentucky in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.48; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is cement mason work growing in Kentucky?

Kentucky's labor market agency projects +4.1% growth for cement masons between 2024 and 2034, from 1,570 to 1,630 jobs.

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

Kentucky projects about 110 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, Kentucky 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: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.