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Educational Requirements | Outlook | Salary
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Job Description: An apprenticeship is a formal method of training in a skilled occupation or trade. For general information about apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with business, visit the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS) website. OATELS is the Federal program that administers the National Registered Apprenticeship System (NRAS). It is a consolidation of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training and the new responsibilities of the employer and labor liaison dedicated to building a workforce for the 21st century.
Apprentice cement masons are paid trainees who are learning to pour and finish concrete surfaces such as floors, walls, sidewalks, driveways, and curbs using hand and power tools. They may also be called apprentice cement finishers.
Duties: Principle duties of an apprentice cement mason include cement finishing with the aid of machines and hand tools. They may also perform some or all of the following duties:
- Check forms, which will hold the cement in place, for strength, depth, and proper size
- Perform an operation which settles the cement (bringing the smooth part to the top)
- Smooth the surface
- Remove any rough spots or patch if necessary
Working Conditions: Apprentice cement masons typically work outdoors on construction sites, highway construction projects, sidewalks, or on smaller residential jobs. They are exposed to most types of weather, except heavy rain or snow. Potential hazards include the possibility of falls, back injuries, or cement poisoning. The work is strenuous and involves much pushing and pulling, reaching and handling, bending and stooping, kneeling and crawling, and walking.
Educational Requirements: To qualify for apprenticeship training, an applicant must have completed high school or the equivalent (G.E.D.) and pass an aptitude test. For general information about training for cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers, contact the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Generally, the program consists of three years on-the-job training and classroom instruction. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Trade and Industrial Education Standards, Competency Profiles, and Resource Links online.
Outlook: After serving the apprenticeship and becoming a cement mason, work is found through the union association. With experience and good job performance, masons may be appointed to crew leader or superintendent.
The estimated number of cement masons in Tennessee is 2,860. It is projected there will be an increase of 32 percent in this occupation through the year 2012 with 150 job openings annually. Job opportunities are expected to remain plentiful due primarily to extensive replacement needs. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.
| 10% | 25% | Median- 50% | 75% | 90% | |
| TN Annual | $20,500 | $24,560 | $29,050 | $34,870 | $40,620 |
| US Annual | $20,840 | $25,750 | $32,650 | $43,060 | $56,310 |
*Some salaries are listed at an hourly rate. Those that include a single dollar amount are considered hourly wage.
Wage and salary data provided by:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
- TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
- Bureau of Economic Analysis website
For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org
Last updated on: January 23, 2008