CEMENT FINISHER

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 79,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Chicago is hiring for a Cement Finisher in the Department of Water Management and Department of Transportation. Starting annual salary is $57.10 per hour. This position opens to public and City employees under the Cement Masons Local 502 bargaining unit.

Bid deadline is 8/21/2026 with potential vacancies tied to budgets. The role involves journey-level cement mason work on sidewalks, curbs, ramps, and related concrete projects, with duties including forming, reinforcing, finishing, and

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a cement finishing/cement mason apprenticeship or journeyman status, OR two years of journey level experience with an apprenticeship, OR five years of journey level experience.

Responsibilities

• Read drawings and specifications to lay out and restore concrete work.
• Oversee tools, equipment, and materials at the site.
• Finish concrete with screed, trowel, and other equipment to required lines and grades.

Job description

CEMENT FINISHER

Job Number: 4435-CITYWIDE-2027

UNIVERSAL BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

CEMENT FINISHER

DEPT OF WATER MANAGEMENT

DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION

Number of Positions: 8

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Annual Salary: $57.10/ HOURLY

Please note: All of these vacancies have not been approved by the Budget Department. This information is included in this posting to help bidders make more informed decisions. A fewer or greater number of vacancies may be recognized during the period this list remains active.

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with CEMENT MASONS LOCAL 502 (Bargaining unit 33). Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 8/21/2026.

Under supervision, performs journey-level cement mason work in the laying, floating, and finishing of concrete for the construction, installation, and repair of new or existing sidewalks, curbs and gutters, ramps and other construction projects, and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Reads drawings, specifications, and work orders to assess work required and to measure and lay out work to restore, install, or repair concrete
• Ensures adequate supplies of tools, equipment, and materials are at the work site
• Directs Concrete Laborers in filling and leveling surface area with sub-grade materials to prepare work area for concrete pour
• Assembles and sets formwork that holds concrete to the required pitch and depth, and aligns forms
• Places reinforce steel materials to ensure concrete reinforcement meets specifications
• Guides the positioning of trucks delivering concrete and moves chutes to facilitate the pouring of concrete on forms
• Places concrete and guides and instructs Concrete Laborers in the casting and spreading of concrete into forms or onto surfaces
• Finishes freshly poured concrete, using specialized tools (e.g., screed, bull float, trowel) to level and smooth the surface
• Uses powered or hand trowels to finish concrete to the required lines and grades
• Operates power vibrator equipment to compact concrete
• Checks line and grade of concrete finishing work to ensure specifications are met
• Monitors the effects of weather on the curing rate of concrete throughout the work process
• Applies hardening and sealing compounds to cure the surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore the surface
• Covers and barricades finished work
• Works with Concrete Laborers in disassembling forms and cleaning work sites
• Loads, transports, and unloads of equipment and supplies
• Preparing work activity reports

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: VARIES

Days: VARIES

Hours: VARIES

Lunch: HOUR

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Successful completion of a US Department of Labor registered cement finishing/cement mason apprenticeship training program and journeyman status, OR Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable:
• Successful completion of an industry or company sponsored apprenticeship training program as a cement finisher/cement mason PLUS two (2) years of journey level work experience as a cement finisher
• Five (5) years of journey level work experience as a cement finisher

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

• A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required
• Must have the permanent use of an automobile that is properly insured, including a clausespecifically insuring the City of Chicago from accident liability

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Exposure to noise, dust and other conditions on construction sites

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Substantial lifting (up to 80 pounds) is required
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with one's body, arms, and/or legs
• Ability to operate applicable hand tools, power tools, and equipment

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER WORK REQUIREMENTS

KNOWLEDGE

Moderate knowledge of:

• tools, materials, processes and techniques of concrete finishing and masonry
• techniques and processes used in laying, smoothing and finishing concrete surfaces
• techniques for constructing concrete and reinforced concrete structures
• properties and characteristics of concrete and various types of concrete mixes
• effects of concrete mixes on strength of concrete, setting and curing times, finish and durability
• use of safety equipment and protective gear
• applicable safety and code standards specific to the cement finishing trade, including OSHA standards
• Knowledge of applicable City and department policies, procedures, rules, and regulations

SKILLS

• ACTIVE LEARNING - Understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
• MATHEMATICS - Use mathematics to solve problems

ABILITIES

• COMPREHEND ORAL INFORMATION - Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
• SPEAK - Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• COMPREHEND WRITTEN INFORMATION - Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
• WORK WITH NUMBERS - Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly

Other Work Requirements

• STAMINA - Demonstrate energy and stamina to accomplish work tasks
• DEPENDABILITY - Demonstrate reliability, responsibility, and dependability and fulfill obligations
• ATTENTION TO DETAIL - Pay careful attention to detail and thoroughness in completing work tasks

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This is a non-interview, tested title.

This position requires the successful completion of an online application and an initial screening process. Applicants who meet the established screening criteria may be invited to participate in one or more assessments designed to evaluate the knowledge, skills, or competencies relevant to the role. Depending on the position, this may include a pass/fail assessment, additional evaluative components, and/or an interview.

External applicants who receive a passing score on the test will be hired in lottery/random order. Bid applicants who receive a passing score will be selected in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement.

FOR INFORMATION ON OUR EMPLOYEES BENEFITS

Please visit our benefits website at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

FOR INFORMATION ON OUR SALARY AND TITLE STRUCTURE

Please visit our classifications website at: http://www.chicago.gov/city/

APPLICATION EVALUATION

Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio‑Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Job Posting: Aug 7, 2026, 5:00:00 AM

Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External: Aug 22, 2026, 4:59:00 AM

Salary: $57.10 / Hourly