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Apprentice carpenter vs construction assistant

The differences between apprentices carpenter and construction assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a construction assistant has an average salary of $39,072, which is higher than the $37,902 average annual salary of an apprentice carpenter.

The top three skills for an apprentice carpenter include hand tools, ladders and caulking. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.

Apprentice carpenter vs construction assistant overview

Apprentice CarpenterConstruction Assistant
Yearly salary$37,902$39,072
Hourly rate$18.22$18.78
Growth rate2%4%
Number of jobs17,37031,209
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4239
Years of experience12-

What does an apprentice carpenter do?

An apprentice carpenter is responsible for assisting the carpenter on construction operations, ensuring the adherence to safety protocols, and following clients' specifications. Apprentice carpenters monitor carpentry tools and equipment adequacy, inspect the items for any defects for immediate repair or replacements, and analyze blueprints and schematics, especially for installing systems and essential components on the construction. An apprentice carpenter must have excellent organizational and time-management skills and extensive knowledge of the carpentry industry to support the project completion for the customer's satisfaction.

What does a construction assistant do?

A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.

Apprentice carpenter vs construction assistant salary

Apprentices carpenter and construction assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Apprentice CarpenterConstruction Assistant
Average salary$37,902$39,072
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $47,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonHawaii
Best paying companyCold Spring Harbor LaboratoryBeazer Homes
Best paying industryConstructionConstruction

Differences between apprentice carpenter and construction assistant education

There are a few differences between an apprentice carpenter and a construction assistant in terms of educational background:

Apprentice CarpenterConstruction Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Apprentice carpenter vs construction assistant demographics

Here are the differences between apprentices carpenter' and construction assistants' demographics:

Apprentice CarpenterConstruction Assistant
Average age4239
Gender ratioMale, 93.3% Female, 6.7%Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between apprentice carpenter and construction assistant duties and responsibilities

Apprentice carpenter example responsibilities.

  • Operate tools ranging from drills, caulking guns, tape measure to chop saws, table saws, skill saws.
  • Provide help with certain tasks such as drywall, paint, caulking and framing, brickwork, roofing, and landscaping.
  • Trim work, framing, paint, Sheetrock.
  • Maintain a clean work site, while utilizing the proper PPE.
  • Help with multiple side jobs and bathroom renovations, from demo to finish.
  • Operate a terrain telescoping man lift, backhoe, skid steer and tractor.
  • Show more

Construction assistant example responsibilities.

  • Fix electrical fixtures and manage plumbing problems effectively.
  • Employ a wide verity of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electronic testing devices.
  • Negotiate material sales contracts, document historical information, provide earned value management, and safety oversight for projects/programs.
  • Prepare plans and specifications for new and existing housing, supervise sub-contractors to insure compliance with HUD requirements.

Apprentice carpenter vs construction assistant skills

Common apprentice carpenter skills
  • Hand Tools, 19%
  • Ladders, 10%
  • Caulking, 9%
  • Work Ethic, 9%
  • Scaffolding, 9%
  • Reference Points, 7%
Common construction assistant skills
  • Safety Procedures, 15%
  • Construction Projects, 11%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Manual Labor, 4%

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