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The differences between carpenter/labours and lead 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/labour and a lead carpenter. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, which is higher than the $36,131 average annual salary of a carpenter/labour.
The top three skills for a carpenter/labour include roofing, safety rules and drywall installation. The most important skills for a lead carpenter are safety rules, roofing, and plumbing.
| Carpenter/Labour | Lead Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $36,131 | $49,228 |
| Hourly rate | $17.37 | $23.67 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 27,472 | 6,359 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Carpenters/ Laborers do general maintenance tasks and help in mechanical and carpentry-related jobs. Carpenters are versatile workers and perform different construction duties. They construct, install, erect, and repair structures and fixtures. Blueprints and building plans are followed by carpenters to meet their customer's needs. Typically, they install structures and fixtures like windows and molding. They also construct building frameworks like floors, walls, and door frames. Additionally, they operate forklifts, wheel loaders, skid steers, and similar equipment. Qualified applicants need manual dexterity, a good sense of balance as well as hand-eye coordination and must be physically fit.
A lead carpenter is responsible for monitoring field carpenters on performing construction duties, analyzing schematics and blueprints, following clients' specifications, completing the project within the agreed timeframe, and maintaining materials with the budget goals, ensuring the highest quality and client's satisfaction. Lead carpenters regularly inspect the project, perform adjustments as needed, repair defects and inconsistencies, and adhere to the safety standards and protocols during operations. A lead carpenter must have excellent knowledge of the carpentry industry to handle clients' demands and efficiently create the finished product.
Carpenter/labours and lead carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Carpenter/Labour | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $36,131 | $49,228 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $47,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Benicia, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | RQ Construction | Brasfield & Gorrie |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a carpenter/labour and a lead carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Carpenter/Labour | Lead Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between carpenter/labours' and lead carpenters' demographics:
| Carpenter/Labour | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0% | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |