Concrete & Masonry Contractors
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 41,000 concrete and masonry contractors in the US generate revenue by charging fees for pouring, forming, and finishing concrete foundations and structures and laying brick and stonework. Common concrete projects include the construction of foundations, walls, sidewalks, beams, columns, and panels. Common masonry projects include the installation of walls, siding, fireplaces, patios, fences, and walkways using brick, stone, concrete block, or veneers. Concrete and masonry contractors are specialty contractors, and may work with general contractors as part of a larger project.
Dependence on General Contractors
In many cases, concrete and masonry contractors act as subcontractors to a general contractor, who bids on and manages a construction job and disburses payment.
Dependence on Construction Industry and the Economy
Demand for concrete and masonry work is highly dependent on the state of the construction industry, which is cyclical and vulnerable to economic factors.
Industry size & Structure
The average concrete or masonry contractor operates out of a single location, employs 9-10 workers, and generates $1-3 million annually.
- The concrete and masonry contracting industry consists of about 41,000 firms that employ 405,000 workers and generate about $76 billion annually.
- Most companies operate on a regional or local basis.
- Large concrete contracting companies include Baker Concrete Construction, Structural Group, and CECO Concrete Construction.
- Large masonry contracting companies include Western Specialty Contractors, McGee Brothers, and Sun Valley Masonry.
Industry Forecast
Concrete & Masonry Contractors Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Apr 7, 2025 - Construction Spending Rises, but Headwinds Loom for Private Projects
- The total value of construction put in place increased 0.7% in February compared to January, according to the US Census Bureau. Spending on nonresidential projects rose 0.3% to a record $1.26 trillion. Residential spending grew 1.3%. Highway and street construction projects accounted for 40% of February’s nonresidential gains as public projects drove growth, according to Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of US Census Bureau data. While public nonresidential spending was up 6.1% in February over the same month in 2024, private nonresidential spending has not kept pace, growing just 2.5% over the same period. In a press release, ABC’s Chief Economist Anirban Basu said, “The mix of high interest rates, tight lending standards, and unprecedented uncertainty regarding trade policy will continue to weigh on private sector construction in the coming months.”
- The total value of nonresidential building construction starts increased 2% in February 2025 from January, according to Dodge Construction Network. Commercial starts rose 22% amid stronger office, hotel, and parking garage construction starts. Weaker healthcare project starts contributed to a 2% drop in institutional starts in February and manufacturing projects fell 48% compared to January. The value of residential construction starts dropped 1% in February as a 1% rise in single-family was not enough to offset a 6% decline in multifamily starts. Dodge’s associate director of forecasting, Sarah Martin, said, “While increased uncertainty over the trajectory of monetary and fiscal policies may be informing some of the flat month-to-month trends – the largest construction sectors still saw growth in activity throughout February. Steady growth in planning activity throughout 2024 should support stronger construction starts in future months – but owners and developers will have to factor in higher risk around elevated material costs, supply chain volatility and further labor constraints.”
- Home builder confidence in the single-family market dropped in March 2025 amid mounting concerns about tariff threats, higher input costs, and economic uncertainty, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), dropped three points to 39 in March from 42 the previous month. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. While builders still face headwinds, including high materials costs being made worse by trade strife and labor and lot shortages, the industry is encouraged by the Trump administration’s emphasis on reducing regulations.
- Raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are prompting some foreign-born workers to stay home from their workplaces, disrupting key industries that rely on migrant workforces, including construction, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Trump administration has said that while it is focusing on undocumented people with criminal backgrounds, anyone in the country illegally faces increased risk. According to an analysis of US Census Bureau data by the American Immigration Council, undocumented immigrants make up about 14% of the US construction sector’s workforce. The Associated General Contractors of America said it had received anecdotal reports of rising absenteeism from member firms in several locations, including Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas. Labor disruptions reduce construction firms’ ability to deliver projects on time.
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