Cement Mason
OPCMIA Local 633
Place, finish, and cure concrete for floors, slabs, sidewalks, and structural elements — the foundation of every building.
Starting Pay
$23.18/hr
1st year apprentice
Journeyman Pay
$49.31/hr
~$99k/year
Apprenticeship
3 years
earn while you learn
Total Package
$135,000+
wages + benefits
Overview
The Work
Cement masons from Local 633 place, finish, and repair concrete on construction projects of every scale — from parking garage decks and warehouse floors to decorative stamped concrete and bridge decks. The work requires both physical endurance (concrete moves fast and you move with it) and a trained eye for proper slope, flatness, and surface finish. Cement masons also do plaster and terrazzo work. In the Twin Cities, large commercial developments and infrastructure projects provide steady year-round employment.
Day One as an Apprentice
Your first days as a cement mason apprentice will be intense — concrete doesn't wait for you to learn slowly. You'll be assigned to a finishing crew and immediately handed a float, darby, or edger. A journeyman will coach you on how to read the concrete as it sets, when to trowel versus float, and how to pull screed. It's hard to learn in a classroom — the craft is all about feel.
This trade is
Pay Scale
Pay increases each year of the apprenticeship as a percentage of the journeyman rate. All rates are hourly; estimated annual at 2,000 hrs/year.
| Year | Stage | Hourly | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Year Apprentice | $23.18/hr | ~$46k |
| 2 | 2nd Year Apprentice | $29.59/hr | ~$59k |
| 3 | 3rd Year Apprentice | $36.98/hr | ~$74k |
| 4 | Journeyman Cement Mason | $49.31/hr | ~$99k |
Benefits Package
Health, dental, and vision through the cement masons' health fund. Pension and annuity contributions. The 3-year program provides one of the fastest paths to journeyman wages in the construction trades.
Apprenticeship Program
3 years
Program Length
360 hrs
Classroom Hours
5,400 hrs
On-the-Job Hours
How to Apply
Contact OPCMIA Local 633 at (651) 484-0404 or visit opcmialocal633.org. You'll need a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license. The application process includes a drug test and physical assessment.
Application Windows
Hiring is highest in spring. Contact the hall year-round for current availability.
Requirements
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- 18 years of age
- Pass a drug test
- Physical fitness — concrete finishing is demanding, time-sensitive work
Physical Requirements
- Extended kneeling and bending during concrete finishing
- Work quickly under time pressure as concrete sets
- Lift and carry heavy tools and equipment
- Work outdoors in all weather — concrete pours happen rain or shine
Tools You'll Need
- Steel and magnesium finishing trowels
- Bull float and darbies
- Edger and groover
- Knee pads (essential), rubber boots, gloves
Physical Demand
4/5
Technical Level
3/5
Union Hall
Market Outlook
Steady Demand
MN DEED and BLS both project 2% growth for cement masons and concrete finishers (SOC 47-2051) 2022–2032 and 2024–2034 respectively, at the low end of the "average" range. About 260 annual openings in Minnesota, mostly from replacement demand.
Next Steps
Ready to learn more or apply? Here's what to do right now.
Wage source: Journeyman base hourly rate is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Commercial Prevailing Wage Schedule (effective 2025-12-22), which is derived from the prevailing collective bargaining agreement for Statewide (MN, ND, partial WI). Total package (with fringe benefits) is higher than the base rate shown. Apprentice progression rates are calculated as standard percentages of journeyman scale and may differ slightly from the actual CBA. This page is not affiliated with OPCMIA Local 633 or any union. Verify all information — including current pay rates, application windows, and requirements — directly with OPCMIA Local 633.