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The differences between carpenter helpers and journeyman 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 carpenter helper and a journeyman carpenter. Additionally, a journeyman carpenter has an average salary of $48,428, which is higher than the $34,192 average annual salary of a carpenter helper.
The top three skills for a carpenter helper include hand tools, ladders and safety rules. The most important skills for a journeyman carpenter are hand tools, safety rules, and work ethic.
| Carpenter Helper | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $34,192 | $48,428 |
| Hourly rate | $16.44 | $23.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 29,208 | 8,871 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A carpenter helper is responsible for assisting carpenters with the construction duties, performing construction tasks as needed, and ensuring the completion of the project timely and efficiently. Carpenter helpers maintain the construction tools and equipment, including cleaning the materials before and after every use and inspecting for any possible defects. They also help with measuring surfaces to establish reference points for the installment of systems and other construction materials. A carpenter helper must have excellent communication and organizational skills, having the initiative to perform heavy-duty tasks under minimal supervision.
Journeyman carpenters perform carpentry work in buildings and repair structures and elements, primarily by using wood and metal. Journeyman carpenters work directly in a team while reporting to a foreman. Most construction companies, builders, and construction staff hire journeyman carpenters to work mostly during daytime weekday shifts, but evening shifts, weekend, and on-call basis hours are sometimes required. Travel is commonly required for this job, as journeyman carpenters go to and from different supply houses, job sites, and the company shop.
Carpenter helpers and journeyman carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Carpenter Helper | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $34,192 | $48,428 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $45,000 | Between $36,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Northampton, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Black & Veatch | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a carpenter helper and a journeyman carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Carpenter Helper | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between carpenter helpers' and journeyman carpenters' demographics:
| Carpenter Helper | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.6% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |