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The differences between commercial carpenters and journeymen 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 journeyman takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a journeyman has an average salary of $57,682, 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 are hand tools, work ethic, and HVAC.
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman | |
| Yearly salary | $46,563 | $57,682 |
| Hourly rate | $22.39 | $27.73 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 41,355 | 13,953 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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 journeyman is an experienced worker whose role will vary on the line of industry where one is involved. They work without supervision from a master craftsman. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around performing manual work such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and mechanical tasks, and other forms of trade. Furthermore, a journeyman can choose whether to work independently or to be part of a business entity. They can also recruit and train an apprentice, or even pursue to become a master in their preferred field.
Commercial carpenters and journeymen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman | |
| Average salary | $46,563 | $57,682 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $61,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Sundt Construction | CVR Energy |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a commercial carpenter and a journeyman in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial carpenters' and journeymen' demographics:
| Commercial Carpenter | Journeyman | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3% | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% |
| 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, 7.3% 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% |