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The differences between carpenters and carpenter helpers 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 and a carpenter helper. Additionally, a carpenter has an average salary of $41,748, which is higher than the $34,192 average annual salary of a carpenter helper.
The top three skills for a carpenter include hand tools, ladders and install windows. The most important skills for a carpenter helper are hand tools, ladders, and safety rules.
| Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Yearly salary | $41,748 | $34,192 |
| Hourly rate | $20.07 | $16.44 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,862 | 29,208 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.86 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A carpenter is a skilled worker responsible for different areas of construction. Carpenters perform fabrication from raw materials. They use tools to create a successful finished product on their client's request. Carpenters must be able to multi-task, resolve any possible complications, strictly follow safety standards, and ensure that the project adheres to protocols without compromising quality and accuracy of work. Since carpentry is physical labor, carpenters are expected to be physically fit to accomplish various maintenance and production tasks.
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.
Carpenters and carpenter helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Average salary | $41,748 | $34,192 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $54,000 | Between $25,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Northampton, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Argonne National Laboratory | Black & Veatch |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a carpenter and a carpenter helper in terms of educational background:
| Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between carpenters' and carpenter helpers' demographics:
| Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% |
| 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, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |