How much do cement masons make in Maryland in 2026?

The median cement mason in Maryland earns $51,950 a year, which works out to roughly $24.98 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure sits in the middle of the range — half of cement masons in the state earn more, half earn less. It is a useful anchor, but your actual pay depends heavily on where you work, how long you have been doing it, and what kind of projects you land.

At the 25th percentile, cement masons in Maryland take home around $47,320 annually, or about $22.75 an hour. Workers at this level are typically newer to the trade, working smaller residential or light commercial jobs, or picking up work in slower regional markets. If you are just finishing an apprenticeship or making the jump from laborer to mason, this is a realistic starting point.

The 75th percentile comes in at $59,160 a year — roughly $28.44 an hour. Masons at this level have usually put in several years on commercial, industrial, or infrastructure work. They handle more technical pours, reading specs tightly, working with architectural concrete, or supervising smaller crews. The jump from median to the 75th percentile is about $7,200 a year. That gap is real money, and it is generally earned through consistency, specialty skills, and getting onto the right project types.

The spread from the 25th to 75th percentile is $11,840 a year. For a trade that involves a lot of physical wear, that difference matters. Knowing where you fall and why is the first step to closing that gap.

Cement masons in Maryland work across a wide range of project types. The Baltimore-Washington corridor generates heavy commercial and institutional work — hospitals, government buildings, transit infrastructure, and large mixed-use developments. Masons working consistently on those projects tend to land closer to the upper end of the pay range. Workers doing residential flatwork or smaller suburban jobs often see rates closer to the 25th percentile, partly because those jobs are more seasonal and less likely to run full-year schedules.

Seasonality is a real factor in this trade. Maryland winters slow outdoor concrete work down considerably. Masons who can pivot to interior work — basement slabs, tilt-up panels, interior flatwork on larger projects — keep their hours up through the colder months. Workers who go dark from December through February lose roughly 320 to 500 hours of potential earnings, which can drag annual take-home well below what the hourly rate suggests.

Overtime is another lever. On major commercial projects with aggressive schedules, a cement mason working 50-hour weeks at the median rate of $24.98 straight time would see meaningful increases once overtime pay kicks in. Hours vary by contractor and project, but masons willing to take busy stretches seriously can push annual earnings above what the BLS percentile figures show, since those figures are based on straight-time equivalents.

Experience drives pay in this trade more than certifications, but there are a few things worth knowing about the Maryland landscape. The state does not require a statewide license for cement masons specifically, but larger general contractors and public project owners often require documented apprenticeship completion or journeyman-level verification. Finishing a formal apprenticeship — typically three to four years — puts you in a stronger negotiating position and opens doors to commercial and public work that pays better.

Some workers in Maryland may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

Geography within Maryland creates a noticeable pay split. The Baltimore metro and the suburban counties ringing Washington, D.C. — Montgomery, Prince George's, and Howard — tend to offer stronger wages and more consistent full-year work. The Eastern Shore, Western Maryland, and the more rural Southern Maryland counties generally post lower rates and thinner job density. If you are mobile and willing to drive or relocate, positioning yourself near the major metro markets is one of the clearest ways to move up the pay scale.

All figures on this page come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. BLS data reflects base wages from employer payroll records. It does not capture side work, self-employment income, overtime premiums, or total compensation including benefits. Your real-world earnings may be higher or lower depending on your specific situation.