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Construction foreman vs carpenter helper

The differences between construction foremen and carpenter helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a construction foreman, becoming a carpenter helper takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a construction foreman has an average salary of $57,121, which is higher than the $34,192 average annual salary of a carpenter helper.

The top three skills for a construction foreman include work ethic, CDL and OSHA. The most important skills for a carpenter helper are hand tools, ladders, and safety rules.

Construction foreman vs carpenter helper overview

Construction ForemanCarpenter Helper
Yearly salary$57,121$34,192
Hourly rate$27.46$16.44
Growth rate-3%2%
Number of jobs40,62129,208
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 53%
Average age4642
Years of experience-12

What does a construction foreman do?

A construction foreman is responsible for overseeing construction operations and determining the construction progress by monitoring plans and schedules. A construction foreman allocates tasks to the workers and ensures that everyone adheres to the safety guidelines and regulations, preventing potential hazards in the work area and avoiding construction delays. They also identify cost-reduction opportunities by handling negotiation with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. A construction foreman inspects the quality of materials, including the equipment and machinery, allocates adequate resources for production, and resolves issues immediately.

What does a carpenter helper do?

A carpenter helper is responsible for assisting carpenters with the construction duties, performing construction tasks as needed, and ensuring the completion of the project timely and efficiently. Carpenter helpers maintain the construction tools and equipment, including cleaning the materials before and after every use and inspecting for any possible defects. They also help with measuring surfaces to establish reference points for the installment of systems and other construction materials. A carpenter helper must have excellent communication and organizational skills, having the initiative to perform heavy-duty tasks under minimal supervision.

Construction foreman vs carpenter helper salary

Construction foremen and carpenter helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction ForemanCarpenter Helper
Average salary$57,121$34,192
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $77,000Between $25,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityHartford, CTNorthampton, MA
Highest paying stateNew YorkMassachusetts
Best paying companyRepsol Energy North America CorporationBlack & Veatch
Best paying industryProfessionalConstruction

Differences between construction foreman and carpenter helper education

There are a few differences between a construction foreman and a carpenter helper in terms of educational background:

Construction ForemanCarpenter Helper
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Construction foreman vs carpenter helper demographics

Here are the differences between construction foremen' and carpenter helpers' demographics:

Construction ForemanCarpenter Helper
Average age4642
Gender ratioMale, 97.5% Female, 2.5%Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 1.5% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between construction foreman and carpenter helper duties and responsibilities

Construction foreman example responsibilities.

  • Manage installation of large scale CCTV and delay exiting systems.
  • Manage daily oversight of moon bounce business, taking stock of inventory and ensuring delivery to customers.
  • Manage different crews in delegating responsibilities to other workers for windows and curtain wall installations.
  • Supervise subcontractors and conduct onsite inspections to ensure exceptional project outcomes achieve on-time and within budget.
  • Operate power saws, planers, jointers, routers and pneumatic equipment.
  • Perform duties associate with building construction and home improvements daily while following all OSHA safety regulations.
  • Show more

Carpenter helper example responsibilities.

  • Put up and dismantle scaffolding, shoring, bracing, ladders, handrails, platforms and gangways.
  • Cut and put up Sheetrock, as well as cement board.
  • Apply caulking compounds by hand and with caulking gun to seal crevices.
  • Assist lead carpenter with various jobs, including hanging Sheetrock and painting.
  • Assist in demo and construction of homes with water and/or fire damage.
  • Assist lead carpenter of demo and remodeling that mainly consist in kitchen and bathrooms.
  • Show more

Construction foreman vs carpenter helper skills

Common construction foreman skills
  • Work Ethic, 10%
  • CDL, 10%
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Construction Equipment, 5%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Common carpenter helper skills
  • Hand Tools, 30%
  • Ladders, 13%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Scaffolding, 6%
  • Door Frames, 6%
  • Caulking, 4%

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