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The differences between construction foremen and lead carpenters 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 lead carpenter takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a construction foreman has an average salary of $57,121, which is higher than the $49,228 average annual salary of a lead carpenter.
The top three skills for a construction foreman include work ethic, CDL and OSHA. The most important skills for a lead carpenter are safety rules, roofing, and plumbing.
| Construction Foreman | Lead Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $57,121 | $49,228 |
| Hourly rate | $27.46 | $23.67 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 40,621 | 6,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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.
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.
Construction foremen and lead carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Foreman | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $57,121 | $49,228 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $77,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Repsol Energy North America Corporation | Brasfield & Gorrie |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Construction |
There are a few differences between a construction foreman and a lead carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Construction Foreman | Lead Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between construction foremen' and lead carpenters' demographics:
| Construction Foreman | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5% | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 7.4% 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% |