Best institutions to study Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher
A program that prepares individuals to prepare, construct, and finish buildings, components, and related structures using compound masonry mixtures of stone, gravel, sand, cement, and water.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 79 Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 46.0402, a specialization of Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04), and leads most directly to the Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers occupation (BLS SOC 47-2051).
About Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher programs
A program that prepares individuals to prepare, construct, and finish buildings, components, and related structures using compound masonry mixtures of stone, gravel, sand, cement, and water. Includes instruction 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.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher program is designed for individuals interested in the construction trades, specifically in preparing, constructing, and finishing concrete structures. This program equips students with the skills needed to work with various masonry mixtures, ensuring quality and durability in construction projects. It is ideal for those who enjoy hands-on work and are looking to enter a vital sector of the construction industry.
Students in this program will learn essential skills such as site preparation, concrete design, and finishing techniques. Coursework includes applied mathematics, mixing formulas, job estimation, and equipment operation, providing a comprehensive foundation for a successful career in concrete finishing.
Credentials awarded
What Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years38 graduates / yr · 2 institutions48%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year36 graduates / yr · 4 institutions46%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.3%
Graduates over time
Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 37 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 84 |
| 2023 | 113 |
| 2024 | 70 |
| 2025 | 79 |
Top 6 institutions for Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia Technician Training Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 37 | 50% | $22,992 | — |
| 2 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NVPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 19% | — | — |
| 3 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 38% | — | — |
| 4 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 36% | — | — |
| 5 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 44% | — | — |
| 6 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PAPublicAssociate's | 5 | 53% | — | $44,225 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Building/Construction Finishing field (CIP 46.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 5 states
Where Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher graduates come from. Each state links to all Building/Construction Finishing programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 42 | Philadelphia Technician Training37 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 12 | College of Southern Nevada12 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 11 | Southeast Community College Area11 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 7 | Southwestern Illinois College7 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 7 | Waukesha County Technical College7 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2051, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Concrete Finishing program can pursue careers as Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers, with an annual median wage of $54,660. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with approximately 14,300 annual openings projected. Most positions do not require formal educational credentials, making this an accessible career path.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 46.0402
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishersprimary SOC 47-2051 | $57,020 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~14,300 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC 47-1011 | $79,920 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~74,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
- Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
Tools and technology used
Other Building/Construction Finishing specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04).
- Building/CIP 46.0401
Property Maintenance 2,461 graduates / yr97 institutions - Building Construction Technology/CIP 46.0415
Technician 2,137 graduates / yr127 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0412
Construction Site Management/ Manager 1,748 graduates / yr73 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0499
Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection 638 graduates / yr36 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0403
Home/ Construction Inspection/ Inspector 334 graduates / yr31 institutions - Drywall Installation/CIP 46.0404
Drywaller partial data254 graduates / yr3 institutions - RooferCIP 46.0410partial data42 graduates / yr3 institutions
- InsulatorCIP 46.0414limited data35 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile WorkerCIP 46.0413limited data30 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Painting/CIP 46.0408
Painter and Wall Coverer partial data29 graduates / yr4 institutions - GlazierCIP 46.0406limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Metal Building Assembly/CIP 46.0411
Assembler limited data5 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What is the duration of the Concrete Finishing program?+
The program typically awards credentials ranging from at least 12 weeks to less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, critical thinking, mathematics, and active listening, among others.
What kind of jobs can I get after completing this program?+
You can work as a Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher, and potentially as a supervisor in construction trades.
Is prior experience required to enroll in this program?+
No formal educational credentials are typically required to start this program.
What is the CIP code for Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher?+
Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher is CIP 46.0402 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to prepare, construct, and finish buildings, components, and related structures using compound masonry mixtures of stone, gravel, sand, cement, and water. Includes instruction 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.
How many institutions offer Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 79 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Building/Construction Finishing graduates.
How much do Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers occupation, which Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher most directly leads to, pays a median of $57,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Building/Construction Finishing field report median earnings of $44,225 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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