Mason at Cement Masons Local 527 Joint Apprentice Training Fund
at Cement Masons Local 527 Joint Apprentice Training Fund in Hazelwood, MO
About This Program
Cement Masons Local 527 Joint Apprentice Training Fund sponsors this union Mason Apprenticeship program in Hazelwood, MO. As a JATC-affiliated program, it is jointly overseen by union labor and contributing employers to deliver standardized, high-quality training. Apprentices earn wages throughout and gain the advantages of union membership from the outset.
The program runs for 3 years and includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training paired with 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices develop core cement mason skills including concrete flatwork, screeding, floating, troweling, and surface finishing; learn layout and elevation work; and practice safe material handling and tool use. Classroom instruction covers trade math, construction safety, material properties, and professional cement masonry standards.
Upon completion, graduates earn journey-level mason status with union credentials recognized throughout the St. Louis metro area and beyond. Union journey-level masons typically benefit from negotiated wages and benefits, and this apprenticeship provides a direct pathway into a stable, well-regarded career in the construction trades.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$24
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
432
Duration
3 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
Mason Career Outlook
National Median
$24.19/hr
~$50,315.2/yr
Apprentice Start
$15/hr
Earn while you learn
Job Outlook
Mason employment is projected to grow moderately, supported by commercial construction and infrastructure investment. Demand is strongest in regions with active building and renovation markets. Retirements in the existing workforce are creating additional openings. Masons with restoration skills or concrete finishing certifications have the best prospects.
What to Expect as a Mason Apprentice
Duration
3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~40 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (6,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
432 hours of related technical instruction (~144 hours/year)
Paid Training
You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress
Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
This is a union-affiliated program. Union apprenticeships typically offer strong benefits packages, pension contributions, and structured career advancement through the local hall.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Mason
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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