Construction and Extraction · Holland code RC

Terrazzo Workers and Finishers

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

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

O*NET 47-2053.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $76,170; Middle half earn $54,830 to $114,780. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 70% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 2 of 5; Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Speaking2.9 / 5
Monitoring2.8 / 5
Critical Thinking2.6 / 5
Active Listening2.5 / 5
Mathematics2.4 / 5
Active Learning2.4 / 5

Knowledge areas

Building and Construction4.0 / 5
Design3.6 / 5
Mathematics3.4 / 5
English Language3.3 / 5
Administration and Management3.2 / 5
Customer and Personal Service3.2 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic100
Investigative13
Artistic16
Social0
Enterprising0
Conventional38

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

plastering supervisor · DE Gipspolier/Gipspolierin · FR superviseur de plâtriers/superviseuse de plâtriers
terrazzo setter supervisor · DE Polier Fußbodenlegearbeiten/Polierin Fußbodenlegearbeiten · FR superviseur de carreleurs spécialisés en terrazzo/superviseuse de carreleurs spécialisés en terrazzo
tiling supervisor · DE Polier Fliesen-, Platten- und Mosaiklegearbeiten/Polierin Fliesen-, Platten- und Mosaiklegearbeiten · FR superviseur de carreleurs/superviseuse de carreleurs
concrete finisher · DE Betonoberflächenfertiger/Betonoberflächenfertigerin · FR cimentier enduiseur/cimentière enduiseuse
terrazzo setter · DE Terrazzomacher/Terrazzomacherin · FR carreleur spécialisé en terrazzo/carreleuse spécialisée en terrazzo
hardwood floor layer · DE Parkettleger/Parkettlegerin · FR parqueteur/parqueteuse

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Plasterers (5321)38,800 employed
Construction and building trades supervisors (5330)53,100 employed
Floorers and wall tilers (5322)35,600 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Technicians and associate professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Technicians and associate professionals, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€50,992
Austria	€46,986
Germany	€44,473
Netherlands	€42,448
Ireland	€41,613
Sweden	€41,155
Italy	€34,882
France	€34,816
Spain	€29,757
Portugal	€18,080
Poland	€12,108

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -1.78. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (47-2053).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

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