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Construction foreman vs construction assistant

The differences between construction foremen and construction assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a construction foreman has an average salary of $57,121, which is higher than the $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.

The top three skills for a construction foreman include work ethic, CDL and OSHA. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.

Construction foreman vs construction assistant overview

Construction ForemanConstruction Assistant
Yearly salary$57,121$39,072
Hourly rate$27.46$18.78
Growth rate-3%4%
Number of jobs40,62131,209
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4639
Years of experience--

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 construction assistant do?

A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.

Construction foreman vs construction assistant salary

Construction foremen and construction assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction ForemanConstruction Assistant
Average salary$57,121$39,072
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $77,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CityHartford, CTSpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateNew YorkHawaii
Best paying companyRepsol Energy North America CorporationBeazer Homes
Best paying industryProfessionalConstruction

Differences between construction foreman and construction assistant education

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

Construction ForemanConstruction Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Construction foreman vs construction assistant demographics

Here are the differences between construction foremen' and construction assistants' demographics:

Construction ForemanConstruction Assistant
Average age4639
Gender ratioMale, 97.5% Female, 2.5%Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between construction foreman and construction assistant 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

Construction assistant example responsibilities.

  • Fix electrical fixtures and manage plumbing problems effectively.
  • Employ a wide verity of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electronic testing devices.
  • Negotiate material sales contracts, document historical information, provide earned value management, and safety oversight for projects/programs.
  • Prepare plans and specifications for new and existing housing, supervise sub-contractors to insure compliance with HUD requirements.

Construction foreman vs construction assistant skills

Common construction foreman skills
  • Work Ethic, 10%
  • CDL, 10%
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Construction Equipment, 5%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Common construction assistant skills
  • Safety Procedures, 15%
  • Construction Projects, 11%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Manual Labor, 4%

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