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The differences between commercial carpenters and journeyman 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 commercial carpenter and a journeyman carpenter. Additionally, a journeyman carpenter has an average salary of $48,428, 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 journeyman carpenter are hand tools, safety rules, and work ethic.
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $46,563 | $48,428 |
| Hourly rate | $22.39 | $23.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 41,355 | 8,871 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
Journeyman carpenters perform carpentry work in buildings and repair structures and elements, primarily by using wood and metal. Journeyman carpenters work directly in a team while reporting to a foreman. Most construction companies, builders, and construction staff hire journeyman carpenters to work mostly during daytime weekday shifts, but evening shifts, weekend, and on-call basis hours are sometimes required. Travel is commonly required for this job, as journeyman carpenters go to and from different supply houses, job sites, and the company shop.
Commercial carpenters and journeyman carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $46,563 | $48,428 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $61,000 | Between $36,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Sundt Construction | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a commercial carpenter and a journeyman carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial carpenters' and journeyman carpenters' demographics:
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3% | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.6% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |