Construction Trades Workers

How to become a Terrazzo Worker or Finisher

Official title: Terrazzo Workers and Finishers

Also called: Grinder, Installer, Terrazzo Finisher, Terrazzo Grinder, Terrazzo Installer, Terrazzo Journeyman, Terrazzo Laborer, Terrazzo Mechanic, Terrazzo Tile Setter, Terrazzo Worker

Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.

Main tasks

Measure designated amounts of ingredients for terrazzo or grout, according to standard formulas and specifications, using graduated containers and scales, and load ingredients into portable mixer.
Grind surfaces with a power grinder, or polish surfaces with polishing or surfacing machines.
Cut metal division strips and press them into the terrazzo base for joints or changes of color to form designs or patterns or to help prevent cracks.
Blend marble chip mixtures, place into panels, and push a roller over the surface to embed the chips.
Modify mixing, grouting, grinding, or cleaning procedures, according to type of installation or material used.
Spread, level, or smooth concrete or terrazzo mixtures to form bases or finished surfaces, using rakes, shovels, hand or power trowels, hand or power screeds, or floats.
Grind curved surfaces or areas inaccessible to surfacing machine, such as stairways or cabinet tops, with portable hand grinder.
Wash polished terrazzo surface, using cleaner and water, and apply sealer and curing agent according to manufacturer's specifications, using brush or sprayer.

How to become one

Masons typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the trade either through an apprenticeship or on the job.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Terrazzo Finisher. BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Apprenticeship: Terrazzo Installer (Existing Title: Terrazzo Worker). BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $76,170 a year The middle half earn $54,830 to $114,780.
About 1,200 people work in this job now, and about 1,000 are projected by 2035. (-13%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Terrazzo Worker or Finisher?

Masons typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the trade either through an apprenticeship or on the job.

How much does a Terrazzo Worker or Finisher earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $76,170 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $54,830 to $114,780.

Is a Terrazzo Worker or Finisher a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 13% by 2035, from about 1,200 to about 1,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Terrazzo Worker or Finisher?

Usually not. Only 3% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Terrazzo Finisher.

Will AI change the work of a Terrazzo Worker or Finisher?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.