Concreter
What the work is
Pours, spreads, smooths and finishes concrete and installs reinforcements to strengthen concrete for structures such as floors, stairs, ramps, footpaths and bridges. Reads and interprets construction plans, and supervises Concreter's Labourers.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Reads and interprets construction plans and specifications
- Determines the quantity and type of concrete required for a project
- Supervises and directs the work of Concreter's Labourers
- Prepares the site for concrete pouring, including clearing and leveling the area
- Installs reinforcement materials such as rebar, to strengthen concrete
- Mixes and pours concrete into the designated areas
- Spreads and levels concrete using tools such as screeds and trowels
- Finishes concrete surfaces to achieve the desired texture and appearance
- Cures and protects concrete to ensure proper hardening and durability
- May construct formwork to hold wet concrete in place
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a concreting crew pouring driveways, house slabs, footpaths and pads for sheds and workshops. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A big slab goes down in one smooth pour and finishes flat as a table
- The concrete truck arrives on time, the crew is ready and everything just works
- A driveway you finished years ago still looks as good as the day you did it
Hard days
- A hot, windy pour day when the surface wants to dry faster than you can finish it
- A truck stuck in traffic while the crew stands around and the clock runs
- Rain arriving before the surface has been sealed
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 371231, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.