How To Become A Cement Mason: What It Is and Career Path

What is a cement mason and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Cement masons create columns, sidewalks, panels, and other structures or surfaces that are made of concrete. Their job functions include pouring, spreading, and forming concrete according to certain specifications. In some cases, they are also responsible for finishing structures and ensuring that all air pockets in the cement are filled.

Furthermore, cement masons are typically in charge of measuring structures or areas, installing strengthening materials such as rebar, and exposing the aggregate. They also report directly to construction site managers and work in tandem with other cement masons.

A high school diploma or GED and completion of an apprenticeship or similar training program are the only formal requirements for this position. Most cement masons enter the workforce with little to no work experience, as employers expect them to know what to do due to their prior training. Since this is a physically-demanding job, anyone who wants to become a cement mason needs to have a good level of physical fitness. Specifically, they must be able to carry heavy loads, stand for long periods of time, and perform movements over and over.

ScoreCement MasonUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,433

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.5

Growth Rate -2%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.19%

Asian 0.94%

Black or African American 9.25%

Hispanic or Latino 29.65%

Unknown 3.53%

White 55.44%

Gender

female 7.08%

male 92.92%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress Level

6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

3.0

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

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Key steps to become a cement mason

Explore cement mason education requirements

Most common cement mason degrees

High School Diploma

54.9 %

Diploma

12.8 %

Associate

12.5 %

Start to develop specific cement mason skills

Skills	Percentages
Hand Tools	17.52%
Sidewalks	16.56%
Expansion Joints	8.27%
Tape Measure	6.38%
Construction Projects	5.55%

Complete relevant cement mason training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cement masons learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cement mason based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cement mason resumes.

Research cement mason duties and responsibilities

Set and brick in incinerators.
Form straight curb and gutter and roll curb and gutter.
Dig, spread, and levele dirt and gravel, using picks and shovels.
Haul concrete and dirt using dump truck, operate tow trailer, operate bobcat and tractor.

Prepare your cement mason resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cement mason resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cement mason resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Cement Mason Resume templates

Build a professional Cement Mason resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Cement Mason resume.

Apply for cement mason jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a cement mason job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do cement masons rate their job?

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Cement Mason reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2021

Pros

If your crew was good and you’re good and you really don’t have to tell anybody anything

Cons

Not like. I love it

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020