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Construction Worker Vs General Contractor

The differences between construction workers and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, which is higher than the $31,842 average annual salary of a construction worker.

The top three skills for a construction worker include roofing, safety rules and sheetrock. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.

Construction worker vs general contractor overview

Construction WorkerGeneral Contractor
Yearly Salary$31,842$66,602
Hourly rate$15.31$32.02
Growth Rate4%8%
Number Of Jobs53,06766,218
Job Satisfaction4.33-
Most Common DegreeHigh School Diploma, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average Age3946
Years Of Experience-8

What does a Construction Worker do?

Construction workers are part of a crew laborers responsible for a number of easy to extremely challenging and hazardous on-site constructions tasks such as preparing the area, clearing debris, building scaffolding, bracing, loading and unloading building materials, and assisting with operating heavy equipment like concrete mixers. They specialize in a variety of occupations that involve building homes and businesses, roads and highways, tearing down properties, removing high-risk materials, and in the digging of tunnels and mine shafts. They test machinery and equipment to ensure they are working properly. They may also transport stocks and materials from suppliers and vehicles to the job site.

What does a general contractor do?

The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.

Construction worker vs general contractor salary

Construction workers and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction WorkerGeneral Contractor
Average Salary$31,842$66,602
Salary RangeBetween $23,000 And $43,000Between $41,000 And $107,000
Highest Paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest Paying StateNew York-
Best Paying CompanyCDM Smith-
Best Paying IndustryConstruction-

Differences between construction worker and general contractor education

There are a few differences between a construction worker and a general contractor in terms of educational background:

Construction WorkerGeneral Contractor
Most Common DegreeHigh School Diploma, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most Common MajorBusinessBusiness
Most Common College-California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Construction worker vs general contractor demographics

Here are the differences between construction workers' and general contractors' demographics:

Construction WorkerGeneral Contractor
Average Age3946
Gender RatioMale, 93.8% Female, 6.2%Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
Race RatioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 27.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%4%

Differences between construction worker and general contractor duties and responsibilities

Construction Worker Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage and decide all remodel activities.
  • Operate cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
  • Operate the recycle baler machine.
  • Require PPE / OSHA requirements and respirator tests perform.
  • General cleaning responsibilities; run cash register and greet customers.
  • Assist in all phases of construction, demo, and remodeling on an apprentice basis
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General Contractor Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage the repair/replacement of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural of primarily historical residences.
  • Manage third party contractors including safety oversight, environmental design specification compliance, and similar construction specifications and requirements.
  • Perform electrical, mechanical (HVAC), plumbing, framing, roofing and finishing construction for residential and commercial buildings.
  • Remodel restaurants, which include painting, dry wall, tiling, plumbing, electrical and laying carpet.
  • Assist and perform all duties with installation of cabinets, flooring, sheetrock, framing, concrete, and basic plumbing.
  • Experience in roofing, painting, digging of footers, and tile setting.
  • Show More

Construction worker vs general contractor skills

Common Construction Worker Skills
  • Roofing, 17%
  • Safety Rules, 12%
  • Sheetrock, 5%
  • Tape Measure, 4%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Masonry, 4%
Common General Contractor Skills
  • Plumbing, 17%
  • Safety Regulations, 12%
  • Contract Negotiations, 11%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Construction Projects, 4%
  • Payroll, 4%

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