Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Machines can already do 20% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 60%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 20% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 60% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 206,170 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $57,020 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 71% for contact with people.
- Also called: Cement Finisher, Cement Mason, Concrete Finisher, Concrete Mason.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float | 29% | 20% to 60% | |
| Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it | 4% | 10% to 27% | |
| Produce rough concrete surface, using broom | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface | 4% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills cement masons and concrete finishers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Pipelayers58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,000
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $57,660
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $54,890
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,630
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of cement masons and concrete finishers?
Machines can do 20% of the tasks of cement masons and concrete finishers today and 60% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 47-2051.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/cement-masons-and-concrete-finishers/