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The differences between commercial carpenters and construction inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a commercial carpenter, becoming a construction inspector takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a construction inspector has an average salary of $52,306, which is higher than the $46,563 average annual salary of a commercial carpenter.
The top three skills for a commercial carpenter include hand tools, ladders and OSHA. The most important skills for a construction inspector are asphalt, ACI, and construction inspection.
| Commercial Carpenter | Construction Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $46,563 | $52,306 |
| Hourly rate | $22.39 | $25.15 |
| Growth rate | 2% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 41,355 | 42,007 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
Commercial carpenters specialize in woodworks and are typically found in construction sites. They operate machinery and a range of equipment unfamiliar to residential carpenters. These carpenters provide their professional services to the construction of churches, bridges, schools, hospitals, and the like. Their job includes installing window frames, staircases, doors, and shelf fixtures. They usually work on more complex and sophisticated structures requiring their companies, agencies, or employers to give them health and safety insurance, given that they adhere to all safety rules and regulations.
A construction inspector is an individual who is responsible for inspecting construction sites to ensure that these sites are following local and building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications. Construction inspectors use survey equipment, metering devices, and test equipment to perform inspections of plumbing, electrical and other systems within the construction. They approve building plans that are satisfactory and issue violation notices and stop orders when there are violations. Construction inspectors also keep photographs taken during inspections and provide written documentation.
Commercial carpenters and construction inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Carpenter | Construction Inspector | |
| Average salary | $46,563 | $52,306 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $61,000 | Between $36,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Sundt Construction | Orange County Sanitation District |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Professional |
There are a few differences between a commercial carpenter and a construction inspector in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Carpenter | Construction Inspector | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | - | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between commercial carpenters' and construction inspectors' demographics:
| Commercial Carpenter | Construction Inspector | |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| 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, 8.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 5% |