Overview
Concrete finishers smooth and finish freshly poured concrete, apply curing or surface treatments and install, maintain and restore various masonry structures such as foundations, floors, ceilings, sidewalks, roads, patios and high-rise buildings. They are employed by construction companies, cement and concrete contractors and manufacturers of precast concrete products, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Check formwork, granular base and steel reinforcement materials and direct placement of concrete into forms or onto surfaces according to grade
Fill hollows and remove high spots to smooth freshly poured concrete
Operate power vibrator to compact concrete
Level top surface of concrete according to grade and depth specifications using straightedge or float
Impart desired finish to concrete surfaces using hand and power tools
Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete
Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete
Waterproof, damp-proof and restore concrete surfaces
Repair, resurface and replace worn or damaged sections of floors, walls, roads and other concrete structures.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$52,140
$68,825
$87,095
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
234expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of a two- to four-year apprenticeship program or Over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in cement finishing are usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
Trade certification for concrete finishers is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.
Additional information
The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Certification requirements
Optional: The following certifications are optional to practice as Concrete finishers in B.C.
- Concrete Finisher Red Seal Certification
- Skilled Trades Certification - Concrete finishers
Concrete Finisher Red Seal Certification
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
This career is eligible for Red Seal endorsement. When all levels of your trades training are complete, you can write an Interprovincial Red Seal exam. A successful result demonstrates you have met the national standard for your trade in Canada will allow you to practice your trade outside of B.C. in provinces and territories covered by the Red Seal certification.
Skilled Trades Certification - Concrete finishers
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
To work as a concrete finisher in B.C., you may need a SkilledTradesBC certification demonstrating that you have completed the necessary technical training and work experience part of your apprenticeship program.
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No programs available in B.C.
There are currently no programs offered at public post-secondary institutions in B.C. that will qualify you for this career. Please see the SkilledTradesBC website for other options.