Concrete & Masonry Contractors

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.

Oct 6, 2026 - Patio Share Slips, but Concrete Remains Dominant Material

• Citing US Census Bureau data, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says the share of new single-family homes built with patios declined in 2025 to its lowest level since 2019. Patios were included in 60.5% of single-family homes started in 2025, down from 61.8% in 2024, reversing a long-term trend toward greater patio use. Regional penetration remained high in the West South Central, Mountain, and South Atlantic divisions. The average new-home patio measured about 320 square feet, according to separate builder-practices data cited by NAHB. Poured concrete remained the leading patio material, accounting for more than 60% of patio square footage in eight of the nine Census divisions. The declining patio share could modestly restrain residential work for concrete contractors, although concrete remains the dominant patio material nationally.
• Construction starts normalized in August following a surge in major projects during July, according to Dodge Construction Network. Total starts fell 24.8% from July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.34 trillion, with nonresidential building starts down 32.0%, nonbuilding starts down 26.7%, and residential starts down 5.2%. Despite the monthly decline, total starts were 15.2% higher year-to-date through August, driven largely by data centers, semiconductor plants, energy projects, and other large developments. Residential starts remained softer, including a 4.6% year-to-date decline in single-family activity. Concrete and masonry contractors may benefit from the continued pipeline of large nonresidential and infrastructure projects, while weaker residential construction could limit opportunities in some markets.
• For Construction Pros says construction firm Skanska sees stronger-than-expected US construction demand, although growth is concentrated in a handful of major sectors. Data centers, infrastructure, power generation, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and select health care markets are supporting activity, while demand for office, retail, higher education, and other commercial projects remains relatively sluggish. Data centers accounted for about 5.4% of private nonresidential construction spending in 2025, and US data center construction spending is expected to exceed $100 billion annually by 2030. Labor availability, power constraints, and long lead times for equipment and materials remain challenges. Concrete and masonry contractors serving infrastructure, industrial, health care, and data center projects could see stronger bidding opportunities, while firms concentrated in traditional commercial construction may encounter softer demand.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) highlighted research showing that multiskilled construction crews can shorten project schedules and increase production when several trades must work in close sequence. Controlled field trials found that multiskilled crews reduced completion time by about 30% and increased production by 37% to 50% on qualifying construction scopes. Earlier ABC research also found that multiskilling increased the share of crew time devoted directly to advancing construction work. Concrete and masonry contractors facing labor shortages or schedule pressure may be able to improve crew utilization by training workers across complementary tasks. Greater labor flexibility could help contractors reduce downtime between work stages, respond more quickly to changing project needs, and complete labor-intensive scopes with fewer scheduling disruptions.

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.