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The differences between commercial carpenters 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 commercial carpenter and a lead carpenter. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, 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 lead carpenter are safety rules, roofing, and plumbing.
| Commercial Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $46,563 | $49,228 |
| Hourly rate | $22.39 | $23.67 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 41,355 | 6,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| 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.
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.
Commercial carpenters and lead carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $46,563 | $49,228 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $61,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Sundt Construction | Brasfield & Gorrie |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a commercial carpenter and a lead carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial carpenters' and lead carpenters' demographics:
| Commercial Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3% | 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% |