How much do cement masons make in Ohio in 2026?

The median cement mason in Ohio earns $62,990 a year, which works out to roughly $30.28 an hour on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the middle of the pack — half of Ohio's cement masons earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a slower market, expect to land closer to the 25th percentile at $49,170 a year ($23.64/hr). Experienced masons with strong finishing skills and consistent commercial work can push into the 75th percentile at $76,680 a year ($36.87/hr). All figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The spread between the bottom and top of these ranges is $27,510 a year. That gap doesn't happen by accident. It reflects real differences in skill level, job type, employer size, and geography within the state.

Location inside Ohio matters more than most workers expect. The Columbus metro and Cleveland-Elyria area both carry active commercial and infrastructure pipelines — new distribution centers, road work, and urban development projects push consistent demand. Dayton and Toledo are steadier but typically run a bit softer on wage rates. Rural and small-market work tends to fall toward the lower end of the range because projects are smaller, crews are thinner, and there's less competition among contractors bidding for skilled finishers.

Job type moves the needle too. Flatwork — slabs, floors, sidewalks — is the bread and butter of the trade and covers most of the work at the median. Decorative concrete finishing, stamped work, and polished floor systems take additional skill and tend to pay better per hour when you can find contractors who specialize in it. Infrastructure and heavy highway work, including bridge decks and tunnel linings, often pays at or above the 75th percentile rate because the specs are tight and the crews need people who can meet them.

Overtime is a real factor in this trade. Cement work is weather-dependent and project-driven, which means summer and early fall regularly bring 50- to 60-hour weeks. A mason earning the median $30.28/hr who logs 400 hours of overtime in a year at time-and-a-half adds roughly $18,170 to their base — enough to push total compensation well above what the annual figure alone suggests.

Apprentices typically start around $15–$18/hr depending on the program, stepping up in six-month or annual increments. Completing a formal apprenticeship — usually three to four years through a state or contractor-sponsored program — is the most reliable way to move from the bottom quartile to the median and beyond, because you come out with documented skills and hours that employers can verify.

No union scale data is available for cement masons in Ohio at the time of this publication. Where union locals operate, negotiated scale agreements can set floor wages above the BLS median, but those figures vary by local and contract cycle and aren't reported here.

The BLS OEWS figures represent wages only — they don't include the value of health insurance, pension contributions, or paid time off that some employers and union contracts provide. When you're comparing offers, factor those benefits in. A job paying $29/hr with full family health coverage and a defined contribution pension can be worth more total compensation than a $32/hr cash wage with no benefits.

Cement masons who add foreman or superintendent responsibilities can move above the 75th percentile. Running a crew, managing pours, and coordinating with inspectors are skills contractors will pay for. Some experienced masons move into estimating or project management roles at mid-size contractors, where salaries often exceed $80,000 a year.

Bottom line: Ohio pays cement masons a solid middle-skilled-trades wage, with real room to grow if you specialize, accumulate hours, and stay in the stronger metro markets.