NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

SOC 47-2051.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers concrete finishing and masonry operations from entry-level residential slab work through senior leadership of multi-site commercial concrete construction crews.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Concrete forms — inspect under direct supervision to confirm proper construction and alignment on a residential job site.
  2. Hand tools and basic finishing equipment — identify and retrieve correctly when directed by a lead mason on a poured-slab project.
  3. Concrete surface — spread and roughly level using a rake or shovel under close guidance on a small commercial pour.
  4. Edging tools and jointers — apply along slab borders following step-by-step instruction from a journeyman mason.
  5. Truck positioning signals — relay basic hand signals to a driver under supervisor direction to facilitate concrete chute placement.
  6. Weather conditions — recognize how heat, cold, or wind may affect fresh concrete when prompted by a crew lead during a pour.
  7. Safety protocols — follow established site safety and public security rules under supervision on an active construction site.
  8. Broom finish technique — produce a basic rough surface texture on a freshly poured slab with direct coaching provided.
  9. Tape measures and depth gauges — use to confirm form depth and pitch readings when assigned by a lead cement mason.
  10. Verbal instructions — listen actively and respond accurately to task directions given by supervisors during daily concrete operations.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Concrete forms — set, align, and adjust independently to the specified pitch and depth on standard residential and light commercial pours.
  2. Power trowel and hand screed — operate routinely to spread, level, and smooth concrete surfaces with minimal supervisor oversight.
  3. Expansion joints and edges — mold consistently using edging tools, jointers, and a straightedge on sidewalk and driveway projects.
  4. Curing environment — monitor wind, temperature, and humidity conditions throughout a pour and apply standard protective measures as needed.
  5. Concrete truck chute — direct positioning and movement to guide material flow accurately into forms on a mid-size job site.
  6. Broom and float finishing — select and apply appropriate finishing tools to achieve specified surface textures on varied concrete placements.
  7. Work sequencing — manage personal time effectively to keep pace with pour schedules and avoid premature curing on routine jobs.
  8. Laborer coordination — guide crew members using shovels and spreading tools to distribute concrete evenly under general supervision.
  9. Quality checks — conduct visual and dimensional inspections of finished surfaces and flag defects for correction before project sign-off.
  10. Trade terminology — communicate clearly with crew members and forepersons using accurate construction vocabulary on active job sites.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex form systems — evaluate, construct, and align forms for irregular or large-scale pours autonomously, ensuring structural and dimensional accuracy.
  2. Full finishing sequence — execute spreading, leveling, troweling, floating, and brooming across the complete scope of a commercial slab project without oversight.
  3. Non-routine surface defects — diagnose causes such as bleed water, aggregate exposure, or cracking and apply corrective finishing techniques independently.
  4. Environmental curing management — adjust finishing schedules, apply curing compounds, and deploy protective covers in response to changing weather throughout an entire project.
  5. Expansion joint layout — calculate and mold joint placement to control cracking based on slab dimensions, load requirements, and mix specifications.
  6. Concrete placement coordination — direct truck drivers, pump operators, and laborers simultaneously to achieve efficient and accurate material distribution on complex pours.
  7. Project management software — use digital scheduling and tracking tools to monitor pour timelines, material deliveries, and crew assignments across multiple active sites.
  8. Critical problem solving — identify and resolve mid-pour issues such as premature stiffening or form failure using sound judgment under time pressure.
  9. Inspection standards — apply building and construction knowledge to verify finished work meets municipal codes and client specifications before project closeout.
  10. Safety hazard identification — proactively assess and address slip, chemical exposure, and equipment risks to protect crew and public on job sites.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Crew supervision strategy — establish performance expectations, assign tasks, and develop the skills of cement masons and laborers across multiple concurrent projects.
  2. Form design review — lead pre-pour planning sessions to evaluate form engineering, pitch calculations, and alignment plans submitted by field crews.
  3. Quality assurance program — develop and implement site-wide concrete finishing standards and inspection checklists to ensure consistent output across an organization.
  4. Environmental risk protocols — author and enforce curing management procedures for extreme weather scenarios, serving as the technical authority for the entire field operation.
  5. Analytical and scientific software — interpret concrete mix analysis and structural data to advise project engineers on finishing feasibility and schedule risk.
  6. Estimating and project planning — use project management and accounting software to forecast labor, material, and equipment costs for large-scale concrete construction bids.
  7. Mentorship and training — design and deliver structured on-the-job training programs that advance emerging masons through apprenticeship milestones and certification requirements.
  8. Cross-trade coordination — represent the masonry crew in pre-construction meetings with general contractors, engineers, and inspectors to align schedules and technical requirements.
  9. Organizational safety leadership — establish and champion public safety and site security policies that meet or exceed regulatory requirements across a construction company's projects.
  10. Complex problem resolution — lead root-cause analysis of systemic quality failures, develop corrective action plans, and communicate findings to executive and client stakeholders.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors41 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Cement Mason · Cement Finisher · Cement Gun Operator · Cement Mason Concrete Finisher · Cement Patcher · Cementer · Column Precaster · Concrete Construction Laborer · Concrete Cutter · Concrete Cutting Operator · Concrete Fence Builder · Concrete Finisher
RAPIDS apprenticeships
0011 · Cement Mason
O*NET skills
MonitoringCoordinationQuality Control AnalysisSpeakingTime ManagementActive ListeningCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge domains
English LanguageBuilding and ConstructionPublic Safety and SecurityMathematics
Abilities
Manual DexterityTrunk StrengthMultilimb CoordinationNear VisionArm-Hand SteadinessControl PrecisionExtent FlexibilityStaminaDynamic StrengthProblem Sensitivity
Work styles
DependabilityAttention to DetailCautiousnessStress TolerancePerseveranceAchievement Orientation
Technology
Information retrieval or search softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareProject management softwareAccounting software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
  2. Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
  3. Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
  4. Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
  5. Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
  6. Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
  7. Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
  8. Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
CIP education codes
46.0402

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.