Concrete Installer & Finisher

Is a career as a Concrete Installer & Finisher right for you?
Here are some things to consider before you decide:

  • With President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Job Act beginning to disperse funds in the Summer 2022, Concrete Installers and Finishers have become one of the top in-demand trades in the US.
  • There is no need to attend a post-secondary institution to start working in the Concrete field, typically only a GED is required.
  • With 2-3 years of experience, you can expect to make $26.24 an hour or $54,579.20 a year plus overtime and benefits.
  • While formal schooling is not required to enter the field, there are a number of continuing education courses and certifications one can complete to build upon their experience and increase their pay.
  • The right personality type to become a Concrete Installer & Finisher is someone who has:
    • Physical Endurance
    • The Ability to Work in a Team, but also Independently
    • Patience

The Career Journey

Gain Construction Experience

  • Must have a GED or HS Diploma
  • There are few, long-term programs for concrete, so you will learn on-the-job.
  • If you have 1 year of construction experience, you can find an entry-level job in Concrete. You will typically start earning $18/hour, but your pay will quickly increase with experience.
  • Skills you will learn: Site Preparation, Mixing Concrete, Spreading & Leveling, Finishing, Site Clean-Up

Get Certified & Apprentice

  • There are a number of pathways to licensure and certification within Concrete, including apprenticeship and continuing education.
  • To learn more about continuing education and certifications that are available, visit the American Concrete Institute.
  • If apprenticeship is of interest, check out the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association career pathways and licenses. Typically, about 1500-3000 of hands-on-experience to qualify for the licensing exam and a performance evaluation is sometimes required.

Become a Craftsman

  • Pervious Concrete Installer:
    • Pass the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of 75% or greater
    • Complete a Performance Evaluation administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA
    • Provide project experience documentation of successful construction of a minimum of 3 projects with a total area exceeding 10,000 square feet (1000 m²).
  • Pervious Concrete Craftsman:
    • Pass the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of 75% or greater
    • Possess a current ACI Flatwork Finisher Technician or Craftsman certification at the time of application
    • Work Experience:
      • OPTION A: Complete a Performance Evaluation administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA and document work experience constructing pervious concrete pavement exceeding 1500 hours.
      • OPTION B: Provide documentation of work experience constructing pervious concrete pavements exceeding 3000 hours.

Career Paths within the Trade

Installer & Finisher

Mixing Driver

Concrete Cutting

Cement Mason

Inspector

Concrete Testing

Featured Story:

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day, but They Sure Had Strong Concrete

Producer Berly McCoy here sitting in as host. So I recently took a trip to Italy. And yes, the food and the wine were great. But what I really remember most is this ancient feeling from the art and the architecture.

It’s hard to conceptualize how long this has been here.

Now, my travel plans didn’t originally include Rome, but then I heard that Emily Kwong was planning on doing an episode on Roman concrete and how scientists had determined what made it so resilient. And I was intrigued.