Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher Salary in Chicago, IL
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $81,020 a year — 42% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,962 take-home, or $5,163 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cement mason and concrete finisher salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,994
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,023
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,175
- Illinois income tax$3,866
- Take-home pay$61,962
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,730 | $24.39 | $40,575 | $3,381 |
| 25th percentile | $59,730 | $28.72 | $47,361 | $3,947 |
| Median (50th) | $81,020 | $38.95 | $61,962 | $5,163 |
| 75th percentile | $105,540 | $50.74 | $77,998 | $6,500 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,890 | $52.35 | $80,189 | $6,682 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,020 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cement mason and concrete finisher's $61,962 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,812 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cement masons and concrete finishers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 16 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $81,020 | $61,962 | $59,812 |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO | $64,670 | $52,040 | $54,728 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $62,250 | $50,209 | $54,255 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $75,970 | $58,422 | $50,532 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $62,330 | $49,864 | $49,716 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $62,130 | $50,076 | $47,339 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,260 | $48,523 | $46,965 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $65,670 | $51,997 | $46,193 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 16 metros →
About the job: cement masons and concrete finishers
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. Installers of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units are classified in "Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers" (37-3011).
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.6% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cement mason and concrete finisher make in Chicago, IL?
The median cement mason and concrete finisher salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $81,020 a year, or about $38.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,730 and $105,540.
What is a cement mason and concrete finisher’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $81,020 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $61,962 a year ($5,163 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,866 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a cement mason and concrete finisher?
Pay here is 42% above the national median of $57,020. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,812 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 16 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cement mason and concrete finisher afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median cement mason and concrete finisher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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