Concrete Finishers
(NOC 7282)
in All Trades and TransportationConcrete finishers place, finish, cut, and repair concrete floors, driveways, sidewalks, curbs, bridge decks, and other concrete structures. They work for construction companies, cement and concrete contractors, and manufacturers of precast concrete products, or they may be self-employed.
Job Outlook
Average
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Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
Size of occupation: small with infrequent opportunities.
Demand: Employment growth will lead to several new positions. Some positions become available due to employee turnover. A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements. There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Work hours: full-time, usually. Both permanent and temporary positions are common. Employment can be seasonal with more opportunities available in the summer months.
Hourly Pay
$18.00
Minimum$22.66
Median$29.18
MaximumAnnual Pay
$12,514
Minimum$35,681
Median$55,763
MaximumCompared to: All Trades and Transportation
Hourly Pay
$15.00
Minimum$24.00
Median$37.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$7,580
Minimum$37,269
Median$79,787
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Concrete finishers place, finish, cut, and repair concrete floors, driveways, sidewalks, curbs, bridge decks, and other concrete structures. They work for construction companies, cement and concrete contractors, and manufacturers of precast concrete products, or they may be self-employed.
Job duties
Concrete finishers:
- Check formwork, granular base and steel reinforcement materials and direct placement of concrete into forms or onto surfaces according to grade.
- Fill hollows and remove high spots to smooth freshly poured concrete.
- Use power vibrator to compact concrete.
- Level top surface of concrete according to grade and depth specifications using straightedge or float.
- Apply desired finish to concrete surfaces using hand and power tools.
- Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete.
- Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete.
- Waterproof, damp-proof and restore concrete surfaces.
- Repair, resurface and replace worn or damaged sections of floors, walls, roads, and other concrete structures.
Sample job titles
- cement finisher
- cement mason
- concrete finisher
- concrete floor finisher
- concrete mason
- concrete polisher
- concrete smoother-finisher
- highway and street cement mason
Skills
- Strength and stamina
- Spatial perception and hand-eye coordination
- Agility and coordination
- Ability to work as a team
Job requirements
- High school or equivalent (usually).
- Over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college, or industry courses in cement finishing.
- Trade Qualifier option, 5,400 hours, and other criteria.
- Certification for concrete finishers is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
- Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for concrete finishers.
- Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.
Other considerations
- Concrete finishers work on a variety of surfaces like concrete floors, walls, sidewalks, stairs, driveways, curbs and gutters, and overlays. They also work on many types of structures like buildings, dams, bridges, and tunnels.
- Concrete finishers work in both indoor and outdoor conditions. Outdoor work is weather-dependent and there may be less work available in the winter. Overtime is often required when the weather demands it. Travel may be required to get to construction sites.
- Jobs in the construction industry are affected by seasonal changes and economic conditions. Work may be on a project basis. Workers should be prepared for periods of unemployment.
- Risks include working on uneven footing and from general construction site hazards. The work involves bending, stooping, and kneeling and may involve heavy lifting.
- Much concrete placing and finishing are now done using machines. Hand troweling is still necessary for small jobs and to finish hard-to-reach spots in corners, edges, stairs, and around obstacles like pipes.
- Specialization is this trade is common. Concrete finishers may specialize in working with specific materials like coloured concrete, exposed aggregates, and various epoxies. They may specialize in specific techniques like diamond-polishing concrete, power trowelling, and finishing curbs and gutters.
- Experienced concrete finishers may move into supervisory, management, training roles, or become contract estimators.
- Concrete finishers work with a variety of tradespeople like heavy equipment operators, ironworkers, carpenters, plumbers, and electricians.
- Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$31,929 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$37,688 median annual incomeCape Breton
$27,892 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$39,428 median annual incomeSouthern
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Construction
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
35-44
15-24
25-34
65+
Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
Top levels of education
Less than high school
$28,328 median annual incomeHigh school
$37,156 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
N/ATrade Certification
N/ACompared to: All Trades and Transportation
Trade Certification
$46,494 median annual incomeHigh school
$31,260 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$42,050 median annual incomeLess than high school
$28,319 median annual incomeBachelor
$30,527 median annual incomeEducation & training
Concrete Finishing
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students to prepare, construct, and finish buildings, components, and related structures using masonry mixtures of stone, gravel, sand, cement, and water. They include courses in site preparation, applied mathematics, mixing formulas and applications, job estimation, concrete design, finishing techniques, mold preparation, reinforcement installation, site safety, and equipment operation and maintenance.
Institutions providing this program
High School Diploma or Equivalent
High School ProgramAdults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Various, NS
Various, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Certificate of Qualification (Voluntary): This is a designated trade in Nova Scotia. Employers may require certification, but a certificate is not needed to legally work in this trade.