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The differences between cabinet installers 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 cabinet installer and a lead carpenter. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, which is higher than the $41,193 average annual salary of a cabinet installer.
The top three skills for a cabinet installer include customer service, hand tools and work ethic. The most important skills for a lead carpenter are safety rules, roofing, and plumbing.
| Cabinet Installer | Lead Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $41,193 | $49,228 |
| Hourly rate | $19.80 | $23.67 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 16,050 | 6,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A cabinet installer specializes in installing cabinets in homes and establishments. Their responsibilities revolve around meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, measuring the area for installation, maintaining records, developing plans and strategies, attaching units to the wall, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. There are also instances when they must cut wood and even participate in constructing the cabinet. Moreover, a cabinet installer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Cabinet installers and lead carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cabinet Installer | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $41,193 | $49,228 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $57,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | MasterBrand Cabinets | Brasfield & Gorrie |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a cabinet installer and a lead carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Cabinet Installer | Lead Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cabinet installers' and lead carpenters' demographics:
| Cabinet Installer | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5% | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.2% 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% |