Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers vs Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers vs Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: what changes?

Consider Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers if you want to smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Consider Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas if you would rather rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole. Both list no formal educational credential; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers and Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

National median pay (2025): $57,020
Route into the job: No formal educational credential; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 13,600

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers brief

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

National median pay (2025): $58,620
Route into the job: No formal educational credential; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 900

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas brief

How the national numbers differ

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers has the edge on annual openings

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers is at 13,600 annual openings, compared with 900 annual openings for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas.

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas has the edge on median pay

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas is at $58,620, compared with $57,020 for Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers.

55.5/ 100

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

40/ 100

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers vs Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Dimension	Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Median pay (2025)	$57,020	$58,620
Pay percentile	42.3 percentile	45.1 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	1.6%	1.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	13,600	900
2025 employment	204,800	10,700
How you qualify	No formal educational credential; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	No formal educational credential; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers brief Read Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas brief

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers vs Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

How the national numbers differ

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers has the edge on annual openings

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas has the edge on median pay

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers vs Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

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