Statewide pay Government data
Concrete finishers in California earn a statewide median of $62,700 a year, 10% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #12 of 50 states and DC. About 28,700 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near California
See all states on the concrete finisher overview.
Pay by city Government data
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for California's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 13,600 openings a year. Typical training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, concrete finishers have 25 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 71% below the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is being struck by or caught in objects and equipment.
What the work is like Government data
How often concrete finishers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Licensing in California Official source
The main state licensing office in California is the Contractors State License Board. Licenses all trades by classification (e.g. C-10 electrical; C-36 plumbing). It can point you to the right license for concrete finishers.
Official California licensing site ↗
Requirements for concrete finishers vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in California
All trades in California.