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Carpenter/labour vs trim carpenter

The differences between carpenter/labours and trim 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 trim carpenter. Additionally, a trim carpenter has an average salary of $45,718, 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 trim carpenter are hand tools, work ethic, and window sills.

Carpenter/labour vs trim carpenter overview

Carpenter/LabourTrim Carpenter
Yearly salary$36,131$45,718
Hourly rate$17.37$21.98
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs27,4724,929
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 43%
Average age4242
Years of experience1212

What does a carpenter/labour do?

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.

What does a trim carpenter do?

A Trim Carpenter is a specialized worker whose task is to install and carry out repairs on molds and trim found on doors, windows, baseboards, and other ornamental pieces. He's also called a Finish Carpenter because his/her job also entails carrying out "finishing," generally making a carpentry project look detailed and defined in appearance, shape, and texture. Aside from leveling and trimming of windows and doors, you will also have to create pieces of customized woodworks that can serve as accessories for wooden fixtures.

Carpenter/labour vs trim carpenter salary

Carpenter/labours and trim carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Carpenter/LabourTrim Carpenter
Average salary$36,131$45,718
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $47,000Between $34,000 And $60,000
Highest paying CityBenicia, CATaunton, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyRQ ConstructionGeneral Electric
Best paying industryConstructionConstruction

Differences between carpenter/labour and trim carpenter education

There are a few differences between a carpenter/labour and a trim carpenter in terms of educational background:

Carpenter/LabourTrim Carpenter
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 43%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Carpenter/labour vs trim carpenter demographics

Here are the differences between carpenter/labours' and trim carpenters' demographics:

Carpenter/LabourTrim Carpenter
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 96.0% Female, 4.0%Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between carpenter/labour and trim carpenter duties and responsibilities

Carpenter/labour example responsibilities.

  • Perform rough carpentry tasks utilizing basic carpentry tools including framing and roofing.
  • Concrete laborer, finish concrete, operate equipment, door hardware, concrete demo
  • Skil carpentry such as framing houses decking whole houses.AL do residential and commercial HVAC duct work.
  • Patch sheetrock, tape and floating after install, lastly put on texture either spray or knock down for beautiful look.
  • Remodel work framing sheetrock electrical plumbing
  • Frame houses roofing flooring siding concrete some electrical
  • Show more

Trim carpenter example responsibilities.

  • Used woodworking tools such as jigsaws, planers, jointers, table saws and band saws.
  • Install and repair roofs, flashing/weatherproofing, HVAC, plumbing, and electric fixtures
  • Smooth or sand surfaces to remove ridges, tool marks, glue, or caulking.
  • Finish crown mold including caulking.
  • Focus on high-end remodel projects and new home construction.
  • Frame and sheet houses sometimes doing siding and shingles also
  • Show more

Carpenter/labour vs trim carpenter skills

Common carpenter/labour skills
  • Roofing, 18%
  • Safety Rules, 10%
  • Drywall Installation, 10%
  • Door Installation, 6%
  • Sheetrock, 5%
  • Tape Measure, 5%
Common trim carpenter skills
  • Hand Tools, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 11%
  • Window Sills, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 8%
  • Ladders, 7%
  • Scaffolding, 7%

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