Concrete Finisher Jobs in the UK

Concrete finisher jobs are in steady demand across UK construction sites. From power floated warehouse floors to brushed-finish external slabs, concrete finishers place, level, smooth and seal concrete surfaces to precise specifications. With 163 live concrete finisher vacancies on SiteJobs and pay rates of £18-28/hour, the trade offers consistent work for skilled operatives. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find SiteJobs, browse live vacancies, and call employers direct.

Concrete finishers - also known as concrete masons - work on commercial buildings, residential developments, infrastructure projects and industrial facilities. The role requires physical stamina, timing and technical skill: concrete must be worked within a narrow window before it sets, and a poor finish cannot be easily rectified.

Concrete finishing on UK construction sites is governed by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA), CDM 2015, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, COSHH 2002 and the PPE at Work Regulations 2022. Concrete finishers must also work in accordance with BS EN 13670 and BS 8204.

What Does a Concrete Finisher Do?

A concrete finisher is responsible for the final surface of poured concrete. The work begins before the concrete arrives and continues until the surface has cured sufficiently. Day-to-day tasks include:

• Site preparation: Setting up formwork, checking levels, installing reinforcement and damp-proof membranes.
• Concrete placement: Directing the pour from a mixer truck or pump, spreading concrete to an even depth across the slab.
• Levelling and screeding: Using a straightedge or vibrating screed to strike off excess concrete and bring the surface to the correct level.
• Floating: Using a bull float or power float to smooth the surface, push down aggregate and bring laitance (cement paste) to the top. Power floating produces a smooth, dense surface suitable for warehouse and industrial floors.
• Trowelling: Final smoothing with a hand trowel or mechanical power trowel to produce a hard, dense, polished surface. Multiple passes may be required for high-specification floors.
• Edging and jointing: Using an edging tool to create clean edges along formwork, and cutting contraction joints (or forming them with a jointing tool) to control cracking as the concrete cures.
• Brush finishing: Applying a brushed or tamped texture to external slabs for slip resistance, as required by BS EN 13670 surface finish specifications.
• Curing: Applying curing compounds, wet hessian or plastic sheeting to retain moisture in the concrete during the early curing period. Proper curing is essential for strength and surface durability.

Concrete finishers work alongside groundworkers, steel fixers and pump operators. The work is physically demanding: long periods bending and kneeling, heavy lifting, and exposure to wet cement which is caustic. Proper PPE is non-negotiable.

Types of Concrete Finisher Roles

Concrete finishing covers several specialisms. Different projects require different finish types, and most finishers develop skills across more than one area:

• Power float operative: Uses ride-on or walk-behind power trowels to produce smooth, dense floors for warehouses, distribution centres and industrial units. This is the highest-paid specialism. Rates: £22-28/hour.
• Slab and floor finisher: Places and finishes concrete floor slabs on residential and commercial projects. Uses hand screeding and floating techniques. Rates: £18-24/hour.
• External concrete finisher: Finishes concrete for pavements, driveways, car parks and external slabs. Brush and tamped finishes for slip resistance. Rates: £17-22/hour.
• Concrete repair operative: Repairs damaged or spalled concrete using epoxy mortars and cathodic protection. Rates: £20-28/hour.
• Sprayed concrete operative: Applies sprayed concrete (shotcrete) to tunnels, retaining walls and swimming pools. Rates: £22-30/hour.
• Concrete drilling and sawing operative: Cuts and drills concrete using diamond blades and core drills. Rates: £20-28/hour.

Concrete Finisher Pay Rates UK 2026

Current rates based on live SiteJobs listings and industry salary data:

• Concrete finisher (CSCS blue card): £18-22/hour
• Experienced power float operative: £22-28/hour
• Lead concrete finisher/foreman: £25-32/hour
• Day rate (PAYE, Monday-Friday): £145-£200/day
• Self-employed CIS day rate: £180-£240/day
• London weighting: Add £2-4/hour to regional rates

According to UK Tax Calculators, the average concrete finisher salary in the UK is approximately £36,024 gross per year. Self-employed concrete finishers working through CIS typically earn more per hour but are responsible for their own tax, tools and transport. Experienced power float operatives on large warehouse projects can earn £250+ per day on CIS terms.

The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.21/hour from April 2025 to March 2026, rising to £12.71/hour from April 2026, as set by the Department for Business and Trade. All employed concrete finishers must receive at least this rate.

What Qualifications and Cards Do You Need?

To work as a concrete finisher on UK construction sites, the following are required or strongly recommended:

1. CSCS Card - mandatory for site access on virtually all UK construction projects. The Blue CSCS Skilled Worker card requires an NVQ Level 2 in a concrete-related qualification. A Red CSCS Trainee card is available while completing your NVQ. Apply through cscs.uk.com or the My CSCS app. The card costs £36 and is valid for 5 years.
2. Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Concrete Finishing (Construction) - the recognised qualification for concrete finishers, awarded by ProQual (qualification number 601/6795/6) and regulated by Ofqual. Covers placing, finishing, curing and jointing concrete. Assessment is workplace-based: no exams, no classroom time. An assessor visits you on site and evaluates your practical work. The qualification has five pathways: Concrete Repair, Concrete Drilling and Sawing, In Situ Flooring - Screed, In Situ Flooring - Resin, and In Situ Flooring - Concrete Finisher.
3. Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision - for experienced concrete finishers progressing to supervisory roles. Also ProQual-accredited. Demonstrates competence in planning, supervising teams and maintaining quality standards.
4. CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test - required before applying for any CSCS card. Book through citb.co.uk or Pearson VUE. The Operatives test costs £22.50. See our guides on booking the Operatives test and passing the CSCS test.
5. Asbestos awareness certificate - mandatory for working in buildings constructed before 2000. The HSE guidance on asbestos states that asbestos was commonly used in concrete products including gutters and flues. Training must be UKATA-approved.
6. Manual handling training - concrete finishers lift heavy tools, bags of cement and materials. The HSE manual handling guidance applies. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended by SI 2002/2787) require employers to assess and reduce manual handling risks.
7. COSHH awareness - concrete contains cement, which is highly alkaline and causes skin burns and dermatitis. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) require employers to assess risks and provide appropriate PPE including alkali-resistant gloves.

Health and Safety for Concrete Finishers

Concrete finishing involves several specific hazards that are regulated under UK health and safety law.

Cement Burns and Dermatitis

Wet cement is highly alkaline (pH 12-13) and can cause severe skin burns, cement dermatitis and chrome ulcers. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 require employers to assess exposure to hazardous substances in wet concrete and provide adequate control measures including alkali-resistant gloves, long sleeves and waterproof boots. Any cement on the skin should be washed off immediately with clean water.

Manual Handling

Concrete finishing is among the most physically demanding construction trades. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to avoid manual handling where possible, assess risks, and provide mechanical aids such as concrete pumps, barrows and hoists.

Silica Dust

Cutting, scabbling or grinding cured concrete generates respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust, which can cause silicosis and lung cancer. The HSE COSHH guidance requires dust suppression and RPE (FFP3 or half-mask with P3 filters). The Workplace Exposure Limit for respirable crystalline silica is 0.1 mg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

Work at Height

Concrete finishers may work on suspended slabs, mezzanine levels or edge areas. Where work at height is involved, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply. See our guide on working at height for full legal requirements.

PPE Requirements

Standard PPE for concrete finishers includes alkali-resistant gloves (mandatory for wet concrete), waterproof steel toe-cap boots, hi-vis vest, eye protection for cutting or power floating, RPE (FFP3) for silica dust, and knee pads for prolonged kneeling. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 require employers to provide all PPE at no cost to the worker. See our guide on PPE in construction for full details.

Where Concrete Finishers Work

• Commercial new build: Office developments, retail units and leisure centres. Large-volume pours for floor slabs and structural elements.
• Warehouse and distribution centres: The largest market for power float operatives. High-specification floors with tight flatness tolerances for MHE operation.
• Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and rail. Finishers work on decks, pavements, tunnel linings and structural elements.
• Residential new build: Housing developments requiring ground floor slabs, driveways and external paving.
• Industrial: Factories, food processing plants and data centres requiring specialist floor finishes including anti-static and chemical-resistant surfaces.
• Concrete repair: Refurbishment of existing structures using epoxy mortars, cathodic protection and specialist repair materials.

Standards and Codes of Practice

Concrete finishing in the UK is governed by BS EN 13670:2009 (Execution of Concrete Structures), which defines four surface finish classes: basic, ordinary, plain and special. BS 8204 covers screeds, bases and in-situ floorings, defining surface regularity classes SR1, SR2 and SR3 with permitted deviations of 3mm, 5mm and 10mm under a 3m straightedge. BS 8500 and BS EN 206 specify concrete mix requirements for different exposure conditions. These standards are referenced in project specifications and are the benchmark for quality.

How to Get Started as a Concrete Finisher

There are three main entry routes:

1. Apprenticeship: A concrete finishing apprenticeship combines on-site training with college study over 2 years. CITB-registered training providers offer programmes. The apprenticeship rate for under-19s or first-year apprentices is £8/hour from April 2026.
2. NVQ assessment (experienced workers): If you have been working as a concrete finisher for over a year, you can complete the ProQual Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Concrete Finishing through on-site assessment. No classroom time required. An assessor observes your work and reviews your evidence portfolio. This is the fastest route to a Blue CSCS card.
3. Labourer to finisher progression: Start as a labourer on a Red CSCS card, learn from experienced finishers, and progress to a Blue card once you have enough experience for the NVQ.

Finding Concrete Finisher Jobs

Agencies including Daniel Owen, Randstad CPE, ITS Construction and Hays Construction regularly place concrete finishers. Browse SiteJobs for live vacancies - every listing has a verified phone number so you can call direct.

Multilingual Summary

Romana

Lucrarile de finisare a betonului sunt in cerere constanta pe santierele din Marea Britanie. Finisatorii de beton plaseaza, niveleaza si netezesc suprafetele de beton, castigand £18-28/ora. Calificarea necesara este NVQ Level 2 in Concrete Finishing (ProQual 601/6795/6), iar cardul CSCS albastru este obligatoriu. Riscurile principale includ arsuri de ciment, praf de silice si accidentari din ridicat greutati. Cauta sitejobs-code15 pe Google pentru locuri de munca in finisare beton in UK.

Shqip

Punet e perfundimit te betonit jane ne kerkim te vazhdueshem ne kantieret e MB. Perfunduesit e betonit vendosin, nivelojne dhe rrafshojne siperfaqet e betonit, me pagesa £18-28/ore. Kualifikimi i nevojshem eshte NVQ Level 2 ne Concrete Finishing (ProQual 601/6795/6), dhe karta CSCS blu eshte e detyrueshme. Rreziqet kryesore perfshijne djegiet nga çimento, pluhur silice dhe demtime nga ngritja e peshave. Kerko sitejobs-code15 ne Google per vende pune ne perfundim betoni ne UK.

Russkij

Raboty po betonnoy otdelke postoyanno vostrebovany na stroiploshchadkakh Velikobritanii. Betonshchiki ukladyvayut, vyravnivayut i zatrivayut betonnyye poverkhnosti, zarabatyvaya £18-28/chas. Trebuyemaya kvalifikatsiya - NVQ Level 2 v Concrete Finishing (ProQual 601/6795/6), a karta CSCS blue obyazatelna. Osnovnyye riski vklyuchayut ozhogi ot tsementa, kremnezyomnuyu pyl i travmy ot podnyatiya tyazhey. Ischite sitejobs-code15 v Google dlya vakansiy po betonnoy otdelke v UK.