Cement Masons

Alaska Trowel Trade Apprenticeship: Success in this program requires great attitude and work ethic, motivation, and the love of working outdoors.

While you learn you are paid in an increasing scale based on a negotiated rate with the contractors. Apprentice wages start at sixty percent of journeyman pay and increases 10% every 1000 hours worked until reaching full scale pay of about $23 which takes on average 4 years. Apprenticeship covers both cement mason and plaster training:

Cement masons prepare and repair concrete, including pouring and finishing slabs, steps, wall tops, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, and paving. They work with a variety of materials including terrazzo, magnesite, epoxy, polymer, and other plastic materials for topping repair and injection.

Plasterers finish interior walls and ceilings of residential and commercial buildings, apply plaster on masonry, metal, and wire lath or gypsum. They also apply cement on masonry, metal, and wire lath (stucco). Most of these finishes are applied by hand.

Bricklayers construct walls, fireplaces, chimneys, industrial furnaces, kilns, and other structures using brick, cement, cinder blocks, stone, and marble.