Post job

Contractor assistant vs construction assistant

The differences between contractor assistants and construction assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a contractor assistant has an average salary of $39,453, which is higher than the $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.

The top three skills for a contractor assistant include drywall installation, purchase orders and administrative tasks. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.

Contractor assistant vs construction assistant overview

Contractor AssistantConstruction Assistant
Yearly salary$39,453$39,072
Hourly rate$18.97$18.78
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs12,81631,209
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4639
Years of experience--

What does a contractor assistant do?

A contractor assistant is responsible for overseeing construction operations under the supervision of the general contractor, from the initial designs to the final touches, ensuring that the final output meets the client's specifications, requirements, and budget goals. Contractor assistants evaluate the costs and expenses and monitor the financial transactions for the project. They also coordinate with the client for updates and other adjustments as needed without compromising the project deliverables. Additionally, a contractor assistant may perform administrative and clerical duties on top of site visits, depending on the general contractor's needs.

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.

Contractor assistant vs construction assistant salary

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

Contractor AssistantConstruction Assistant
Average salary$39,453$39,072
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $46,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateIllinoisHawaii
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBeazer Homes
Best paying industryConstructionConstruction

Differences between contractor assistant and construction assistant education

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

Contractor AssistantConstruction Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Contractor assistant vs construction assistant demographics

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

Contractor AssistantConstruction Assistant
Average age4639
Gender ratioMale, 68.2% Female, 31.8%Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 22.5% Asian, 1.4% White, 65.4% 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 contractor assistant and construction assistant duties and responsibilities

Contractor assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage and decide all remodel activities.
  • Construct undergrounds for new homes, complete water systems in copper, pex and cpvc.
  • Remodel bathrooms, install windows and doors, roofing, siding, fencing, landscaping, and general house repairs.
  • Certificate in upnor PEX water line install.
  • Install new 3/4 PVC condensate drains for all coils
  • Experience working with various PVC and metal pipe materials and fittings.
  • 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.

Contractor assistant vs construction assistant skills

Common contractor assistant skills
  • Drywall Installation, 12%
  • Purchase Orders, 9%
  • Administrative Tasks, 6%
  • Contract Terms, 6%
  • Construction Sites, 5%
  • Sheetrock, 5%
Common construction assistant skills
  • Safety Procedures, 15%
  • Construction Projects, 11%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Manual Labor, 4%

Browse construction and extraction jobs