Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Cement Mason

🎯 Role Definition

The Cement Mason (also known as Concrete Finisher or Concrete Masonry Technician) is responsible for all stages of concrete work on a job site: reading plans and grades, building and setting forms, placing reinforcement, mixing and pouring concrete, screeding and finishing surfaces, applying curing methods, and making repairs. This role demands strong technical skills, physical stamina, an eye for surface quality and slope, and strict adherence to safety and quality standards. Successful candidates will produce accurate, long-lasting concrete work across residential, commercial and public infrastructure projects.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Construction Laborer with concrete exposure
Concrete Finisher Apprentice / Trainee
Form Setter or Rebar Setter

Advancement To:

Lead Cement Mason / Crew Lead
Masonry Foreman or Site Supervisor
Concrete Superintendent or Project Manager
Estimator or Construction Business Owner

Lateral Moves:

Bricklayer / Blocklayer
Formwork Carpenter
Heavy Equipment Operator (concrete pump/bobcat)
Decorative Concrete Specialist (stamped or colored concrete)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Read and interpret blueprints, work orders and grade stakes to determine finish elevations, forms, reinforcement location and sequence for pouring concrete, ensuring dimensional accuracy and compliance with project specifications.
Lay out, construct, level and brace formwork for slabs, sidewalks, curbs, foundations, steps and special finishes, using lumber, metal forms, form ties, and fasteners to meet engineered tolerances.
Place and securely tie steel reinforcement (rebar, wire mesh) and install dowels and anchors as specified, coordinating placement with inspectors and concrete delivery schedules.
Operate concrete placement equipment including chutes, pumps, wheelbarrows and small loaders to transport and place concrete in forms while minimizing segregation and maintaining workability.
Screed and strike off newly placed concrete to established grades and elevations using hand screeds or mechanical screeding tools to achieve precise surface levels and slopes.
Float, bull-float and darby concrete surfaces to compact, consolidate and remove excess bleed water, ensuring a uniform substrate for final finishing.
Perform finishing operations including hand troweling, power troweling and broom or texture finishes for sidewalks and driveways, producing the specified surface texture (smooth, broom, trowel, exposed aggregate, or stamped).
Cut control and contraction joints by saw or hand groover at specified spacing and depth to reduce random cracking and move joints to planned locations.
Apply surface treatments including retarders, curing compounds, sealers and densifiers, and monitor curing schedules to ensure proper hydration and strength gain.
Repair, patch and resurface existing concrete structures using epoxy, polymer-modified mortars or patching compounds, preparing substrates and matching finishes to surrounding surfaces.
Mix concrete onsite or verify ready-mix deliveries for correct slump, air content and admixture use; perform slump tests and participate in quality control testing as required.
Install expansion joints, neoprene, and other isolation materials, ensuring joints are properly placed and protected during pouring and finishing operations.
Set form hardware, tie bolts and anchors for embedded items such as plates and manholes, and coordinate with other trades regarding penetrations and embedded items.
Use saws, grinders and power tools to cut and shape concrete and to prepare edges for repairs or finishes while maintaining safe operating procedures.
Maintain site cleanliness and concrete waste control, remove forms and clean forms and tools promptly to preserve equipment life and prevent material build-up.
Coordinate with project superintendents, surveyors and inspectors to verify elevations, tolerances, inspection points and sign-offs throughout the pour and finishing process.
Provide on-the-job instruction and supervision to apprentices and junior masons, ensuring consistent quality and adherence to safe work practices.
Monitor weather and ambient conditions and implement cold-weather or hot-weather placement techniques (insulation, curing blankets, admixtures, shading) to protect concrete quality.
Troubleshoot common concrete placement and finishing issues such as segregation, blowouts, excessive bleed, scaling and surface defects, recommending corrective actions.
Maintain accurate records of materials used, pour volumes, test results and equipment maintenance for project documentation and compliance purposes.
Follow OSHA and company safety policies, including PPE use, fall protection, hazard communication, confined space precautions and equipment lockout/tagout during concrete operations.
Execute specialty finishes such as stamped, colored, exposed aggregate or broom finishes to client specifications, ensuring consistent pattern alignment and color blending.
Load, unload and maintain finishing and forming tools and equipment (power trowels, vibrators, screeds, floats, saws), scheduling repairs and service to minimize downtime.
Assist with estimating material quantities and labor hours for concrete scopes, providing input on formwork, reinforcement and finishing requirements for bids.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and organize hand and power tools, consumables and small equipment — ensuring proper cleaning, storage and inventory of trowels, floats, edgers and blades.
Help schedule concrete deliveries, coordinate with suppliers for admixtures and specialty mixes, and verify batch tickets upon arrival.
Support site cleanup, traffic and pedestrian control around work areas and ensure protection of adjacent finished surfaces (masking, plywood protection).
Participate in pre-construction meetings and daily briefings to align on scope, safety issues, sequencing and trade coordination.
Assist with on-site training programs and mentoring of apprentices, promoting best practices for finishing techniques and safety.
Communicate with customers, subcontractors and inspectors to provide status updates and address questions regarding concrete timing, finish, and curing.
Conduct basic maintenance and inspection of mechanized equipment (power trowels, concrete saws, vibrators), reporting defects and scheduling service.
Support quality control inspections by documenting issues, implementing punch-list corrections and following up to close items.
Aid in the preparation of mock-ups and samples for owner approval of finishes, textures and joint layouts prior to full production pours.
Perform light demolition of failed concrete and removal of unsound material to prepare surfaces for repair or replacement.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient concrete finishing techniques: screeding, floating, bull-floating, troweling, edging, and broom/texturing.
Formwork construction and bracing for slabs, curbs, sidewalks, foundations and specialty shapes.
Reinforcement placement skills: reading rebar schedules, tying rebar and installing mesh.
Blueprint and grade reading; interpreting elevations, slope, joint spacing and embedded items.
Concrete placement and handling: chute/pump coordination, slump verification, and consolidation with vibrators.
Joint cutting and saw operation (wet/dry saws) and hand grooving to specified depths and spacing.
Power trowel operation and maintenance, plus safe use of grinders, saws and hand power tools.
Knowledge of concrete mix components, admixtures, curing compounds and cold/hot weather placement techniques.
Surface repair and restoration methods using repair mortars, epoxy injections and patch systems.
Understanding of OSHA regulations, jobsite safety protocols, PPE use and hazard mitigation.
Basic material takeoffs and assistance with estimating concrete volumes and formwork materials.
Experience with decorative concrete techniques: stamping, coloring, exposed aggregate, and stamping tools.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and pride in producing flat, level and visually consistent concrete surfaces.
Physical stamina and dexterity to handle repetitive finishing tasks, lifting, kneeling and working in varied weather.
Effective verbal communication and teamwork skills to coordinate with laborers, foremen, subcontractors and inspectors.
Time management and ability to sequence work to meet cure times, pour schedules and project milestones.
Problem-solving aptitude to identify defects early and implement practical corrective measures.
Reliability, punctuality and a safety-first mindset on every shift.
Ability to teach and mentor apprentices and junior crew members with patience and clarity.
Adaptability to changing site conditions, schedule shifts and evolving project needs.
Customer-focused attitude when interacting with homeowners or site managers regarding finishes and repairs.
Professional demeanor and commitment to maintaining clean, organized jobsite areas.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED preferred; equivalent construction trade experience accepted.

Preferred Education:

Completion of a masonry or concrete finishing apprenticeship, trade school certificate, or employer-sponsored training programs.
OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification, first aid/CPR.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Technology
Masonry or Concrete Technology
Carpentry/Formwork training

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of hands-on cement masonry/concrete finishing experience, including exposure to both commercial and residential projects.

Preferred: 3–5 years as a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher with proven experience in forming, rebar layout, finishing large slabs, operating power trowels and completing specialty decorative finishes. Experience supervising small crews and reading engineered drawings is a plus.