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The differences between carpenters and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a carpenter, becoming a general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, 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 general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Carpenter | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $41,748 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $20.07 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 5,862 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.86 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 8 |
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.
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
Carpenters and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Carpenter | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $41,748 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $54,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Argonne National Laboratory | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a carpenter and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Carpenter | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between carpenters' and general contractors' demographics:
| Carpenter | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 4% |