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Terrazzo worker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$76,170median pay per year, or $36.62 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $54,83025th percentile
  3. $76,170median
  4. $114,78075th percentile
  5. $126,130top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A terrazzo worker, which BLS calls a terrazzo worker or finisher, earned a median of $76,170 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall 13% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-13%[2]
Openings per year
100[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do terrazzo workers make?

The median wage for terrazzo workers and finishers was $76,170 a year, or $36.62 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) wage was $84,920 a year, or $40.83 an hour[7].

For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. The typical terrazzo worker earned well above that.

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,090 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $54,830[3][8]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $114,780, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $126,130[3]. Hourly, those four boundaries were $22.16, $26.36, $55.18 and $60.64[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full-time and part-time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not count bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[3] $46,090
25th percentile[3] $54,830
Median[1] $76,170
75th percentile[3] $114,780
90th percentile[3] $126,130

Pay by state

BLS published state wages for only 7 states[11]. New York had the highest median at $123,820, followed by Illinois at $107,190 and Michigan at $72,450[11]. California was lowest in that list at $41,430[11]. The gap between the top and bottom states is large.

New Jersey had the most jobs of any state, at 100[12]. Metro area data is not covered in the facts used for this page.

Show median pay in 7 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[11]$123,820n/a
Illinois$107,190n/a
Michigan$72,450n/a
Wisconsin$57,930n/a
New Jersey$57,550100
Florida$49,500n/a
California$41,430n/a

How to become a terrazzo worker

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for training details covers masonry workers, a wider group that includes terrazzo workers[13]. Read the steps with that in mind:

Unions and contractor associations are among the groups that run apprenticeships[17]. Apprentices learn construction basics such as blueprint reading, measurement math, building codes and safety[17]. After finishing, masons are considered journey workers and can do tasks on their own[17]. Technical schools also offer masonry programs, alone or alongside apprenticeships[18]. The facts do not say how long an apprenticeship lasts.

In an O*NET survey of 17 workers, 70% said a high school diploma or the equivalent is the education required, 14% said less than a diploma, 10% said a post-secondary certificate and 6% said some college courses[19].

The handbook also lists useful qualities. These include color vision for setting terrazzo patterns, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, stamina and comfort working at heights[20][21][22][23][24].

What terrazzo workers do

Terrazzo workers lay a blend of cement, sand, pigment or marble chips on floors, stairs and cabinet fixtures to make durable, decorative surfaces[25]. Typical tasks include:

O*NET job titles include terrazzo finisher, terrazzo grinder and terrazzo mechanic[27].

Where they work

The handbook's masonry profile says the work is strenuous. Workers often carry heavy materials and spend long stretches standing, kneeling or bending, indoors or outdoors, in dusty or dirty places[28]. Falls and cuts are among the injury risks, so workers wear protective gear[29]. Most masons work full time, and some work overtime to meet deadlines[30]. Terrazzo masons may have unusual hours so the work does not interrupt a building's normal use[30]. Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors were the largest employers of masonry workers in 2025, at 31%[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects that employment of terrazzo workers and finishers will fall 13% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,200 jobs to 1,000[2]. For all occupations, the projection is growth of 3.5%[32].

Jobs will still open. BLS expects about 100 openings a year on average, and that count includes spots left by people who retire or switch jobs, as well as new ones[5]. Each year, 2.1% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[33].

This is a very small occupation. BLS counted about 1,180 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[34]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, so they measure something different[2].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is a strength. The median of $76,170 is well above the $50,980 all-occupations median[1][4]. Entry runs through a high school diploma and an apprenticeship rather than a degree[6]. The cautions are the size and direction of the field: about 1,180 jobs and a projected 13% decline[34][2]. Pay also differs a lot by state, from $123,820 in New York to $41,430 in California[11]. The work is physical and can involve heights[20][28].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a terrazzo worker make an hour?
The median was $36.62 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $40.83[1][7].
How do you become a terrazzo worker?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and an apprenticeship[6].
Is terrazzo work in demand?
BLS projects a 13% decline from 2025 to 2035, with about 100 openings a year[2][5].
Which state pays terrazzo workers the most?
New York had the highest median at $123,820 among 7 states with data[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers in the US was $76,170 per year and $36.62 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Terrazzo Workers and Finishers is projected to decline 13% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,200 to 1,000 jobs (a change of -200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers: 10th percentile $46,090, 25th percentile $54,830, 75th percentile $114,780, 90th percentile $126,130. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 100 openings for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Terrazzo Workers and Finishers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers was $84,920 per year and $40.83 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers: 10th percentile $22.16, 25th percentile $26.36, 75th percentile $55.18, 90th percentile $60.64. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Terrazzo Workers and Finishers jobs: New Jersey 100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Masonry Workers" covers Terrazzo Workers and Finishers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  14. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 47-2053.00 survey of workers (17 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 70%, Less than a High School Diploma 14%, Post-Secondary Certificate 10%, Some College Courses 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Terrazzo Workers and Finishers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 47-2053.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Grinder, Installer, Terrazzo Finisher, Terrazzo Grinder, Terrazzo Installer, Terrazzo Journeyman, Terrazzo Laborer, Terrazzo Mechanic. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of masonry workers in 2025: Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors 31%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Terrazzo Workers and Finishers: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,180 people were employed as Terrazzo Workers and Finishers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.