Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Official O*NET title: Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (47-2051.00)
Also called: cement finisher, cement mason, concrete finisher, concrete mason, finisher
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing cement masons and concrete finishers work
1 of 19 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 5%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Signal truck driver to position truck to help with pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Produce rough concrete surface, using broom (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Operate power vibrator to compact concrete (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete or pattern or stamp the surface to provide a decorative finish (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth, using trowel (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Waterproof or restore concrete surfaces, using appropriate compounds (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Mix cement, sand, and water to produce concrete, grout, or slurry, using hoe, trowel, tamper, scraper, or concrete-mixing machine (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Chip, scrape, and grind high spots, ridges, and rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisels, power grinders, or hand tools (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Cut out damaged areas, drill holes for reinforcing rods, and position reinforcing rods to repair concrete, using power saw and drill (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Wet concrete surface, and rub with stone to smooth surface and obtain specified finish (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Clean chipped area, using wire brush, and feel and observe surface to determine if it is rough or uneven (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Build wooden molds, and clamp molds around area to be repaired, using hand tools (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Sprinkle colored marble or stone chips, powdered steel, or coloring powder over surface to produce prescribed finish — no recorded AI use
- Fabricate concrete beams, columns, and panels — no recorded AI use
- Polish surface, using polishing or surfacing machine — no recorded AI use
- Cut metal division strips, and press them into terrazzo base so that top edges form desired design or pattern — no recorded AI use
- Push roller over surface to embed chips in surface — no recorded AI use
- Apply muriatic acid to clean surface, and rinse with water — no recorded AI use
- Spread roofing paper on surface of foundation, and spread concrete onto roofing paper with trowel to form terrazzo base — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and cement masons and concrete finishers
Will AI replace cement masons and concrete finishers?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 1 of the 19 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 25 of the 26 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which cement mason tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
Which cement mason tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed; set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them; spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 3% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a cement mason start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers ranks #559 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #39 of 44 in Trades & Repair. It’s in our top 50 jobs AI is least likely to replace.