How to hire cement masons and concrete finishers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed. • Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it. • Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge. • Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process. • Produce rough concrete surface, using broom. • Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them. • Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms. • Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • Strong monitoring, speaking, active listening and critical thinking skills • Working knowledge of English Language and building and construction • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $27.41 an hour ($57,020 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for cement masons and concrete finishers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What cement masons and concrete finishers do
- Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
- Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
- Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
- Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
- Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
- Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
- Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for cement masons and concrete finishers
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +1.6% over ten years, little or no change · about 13,600 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay cement masons and concrete finishers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $95,890 |
| Illinois | $78,170 |
| Washington | $77,520 |
| Oregon | $68,530 |
| Minnesota | $66,830 |
| Oklahoma | $45,750 |
| Alabama | $44,720 |
| Mississippi | $43,980 |
See cement masons and concrete finishers pay in every state
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.