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The differences between builders and lead carpenters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a builder and a lead carpenter. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, which is higher than the $33,117 average annual salary of a builder.
The top three skills for a builder include work ethic, safety rules and construction sites. The most important skills for a lead carpenter are safety rules, roofing, and plumbing.
| Builder | Lead Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $33,117 | $49,228 |
| Hourly rate | $15.92 | $23.67 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 4,074 | 6,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Builders are responsible for managing, coordinating, and working on the construction. They are also responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial and residential buildings. They oversee a project by either making arrangements with subcontractors to finish specific jobs or doing the work themselves. Builders need to ensure that the construction projects meet their client's requirements as well as the government and industry regulations. They often perform their work in an industrial setting. Their day-to-day activity depends on their specialization and level of experience.
A lead carpenter is responsible for monitoring field carpenters on performing construction duties, analyzing schematics and blueprints, following clients' specifications, completing the project within the agreed timeframe, and maintaining materials with the budget goals, ensuring the highest quality and client's satisfaction. Lead carpenters regularly inspect the project, perform adjustments as needed, repair defects and inconsistencies, and adhere to the safety standards and protocols during operations. A lead carpenter must have excellent knowledge of the carpentry industry to handle clients' demands and efficiently create the finished product.
Builders and lead carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Builder | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $33,117 | $49,228 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $44,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Brasfield & Gorrie | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Construction |
There are a few differences between a builder and a lead carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Builder | Lead Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between builders' and lead carpenters' demographics:
| Builder | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |