They also wear water-repellent boots while working in wet concrete. Many cement masons and terrazzo workers are members of unions. Wages vary with training, experience and location. Entry level wages may be lower. National Wages Union workers generally receive higher wages than nonunion workers.
Apprentices receive wages that are about half that of skilled workers.
As they gain experience and skill, apprentices receive higher wages. Cement masons can lose work time because of bad weather or downturns in construction activity. Thus, their overall earnings may be lower than these wages suggest. Most cement masons and terrazzo workers must provide their own health insurance and retirement plan. This is because the small companies they work for are unlikely to provide benefits.