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The differences between carpenters and finish 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 and a finish carpenter. Additionally, a finish carpenter has an average salary of $46,987, which is higher than the $41,748 average annual salary of a carpenter.
The top three skills for a carpenter include hand tools, ladders and install windows. The most important skills for a finish carpenter are hand tools, custom cabinets, and safety rules.
| Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $41,748 | $46,987 |
| Hourly rate | $20.07 | $22.59 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,862 | 11,653 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.86 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| 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.
Finish carpenters are skilled professionals who perform the final touches on homes after the structure is fully built. These carpenters must carry out various tasks such as installing doors, building bookshelves, and adding designs to window and door trims. They are required to follow work from sketches and drawings to complete the job to the right specifications as well as collecting the correct materials before beginning a job. Finish carpenters must also dismantle and demolish before carrying out repairs or installing new materials.
Carpenters and finish carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $41,748 | $46,987 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $54,000 | Between $34,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Argonne National Laboratory | Turner Construction |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a carpenter and a finish carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between carpenters' and finish carpenters' demographics:
| Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% |
| 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, 7.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |