Cement & Concrete Finisher
Skilled Trades
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.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
- 2Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
- 3Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
- 4Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
- 5Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
- 6Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
- 7Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
- 8Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
- 9Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface.
- 10Operate power vibrator to compact concrete.
- 11Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth, using trowel.
- 12Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete or pattern or stamp the surface to provide a decorative finish.
- 13Waterproof or restore concrete surfaces, using appropriate compounds.
- 14Mix cement, sand, and water to produce concrete, grout, or slurry, using hoe, trowel, tamper, scraper, or concrete-mixing machine.
- 15Chip, scrape, and grind high spots, ridges, and rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisels, power grinders, or hand tools.
- 16Sprinkle colored marble or stone chips, powdered steel, or coloring powder over surface to produce prescribed finish.
- 17Cut out damaged areas, drill holes for reinforcing rods, and position reinforcing rods to repair concrete, using power saw and drill.
- 18Wet concrete surface, and rub with stone to smooth surface and obtain specified finish.
- 19Fabricate concrete beams, columns, and panels.
- 20Polish surface, using polishing or surfacing machine.
- 21Clean chipped area, using wire brush, and feel and observe surface to determine if it is rough or uneven.
- 22Build wooden molds, and clamp molds around area to be repaired, using hand tools.
- 23Cut metal division strips, and press them into terrazzo base so that top edges form desired design or pattern.
- 24Push roller over surface to embed chips in surface.
- 25Apply muriatic acid to clean surface, and rinse with water.
- 26Spread roofing paper on surface of foundation, and spread concrete onto roofing paper with trowel to form terrazzo base.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Mason
- Cementer
- Finisher
- Cement Mason
- Curb Builder
- Joint Setter
- Concrete Tech
- Floor Grinder
- Cement Patcher
- Concrete Mason
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
Typical entry
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- English Language74%
English
- Building and Construction70%
Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Mathematics62%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- Public Safety and Security62%
- Mechanical53%
Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Administration and Management52%
BusinessEconomics
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleConstant contact
- Dealing with customers or the publicA little
- Leading or coordinating othersVery high
- Handling conflict situationsOften
- Indoors, air-conditionedAlmost never
- Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
- Noisy environmentOften
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
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About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org