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The differences between carpenters and masons 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 mason takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mason has an average salary of $43,974, 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 mason are masonry, scaffolding, and safety regulations.
| Carpenter | Mason | |
| Yearly salary | $41,748 | $43,974 |
| Hourly rate | $20.07 | $21.14 |
| Growth rate | 2% | -2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,862 | 15,057 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.86 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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 mason is responsible for shaping artificial mineral products, concrete blocks, stone pieces, and bricks to create structures essential for construction or other building purposes using various machinery and equipment, following the highest safety standards and production procedures. Masons analyze schematics and blueprints, applying the clients' specifications and customization to their product expertise. They also inspect tools and equipment, ensuring that the materials are free from any defects to avoid hazards and construction delays.
Carpenters and masons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Carpenter | Mason | |
| Average salary | $41,748 | $43,974 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $54,000 | Between $28,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Argonne National Laboratory | Pella |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a carpenter and a mason in terms of educational background:
| Carpenter | Mason | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between carpenters' and masons' demographics:
| Carpenter | Mason | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 2.1% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 1% |