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The differences between contractor assistants and general foremen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes More than 10 years to become both a contractor assistant and a general foreman. Additionally, a general foreman has an average salary of $48,517, which is higher than the $39,453 average annual salary of a contractor assistant.
The top three skills for a contractor assistant include drywall installation, purchase orders and administrative tasks. The most important skills for a general foreman are safety procedures, OSHA, and safety rules.
| Contractor Assistant | General Foreman | |
| Yearly salary | $39,453 | $48,517 |
| Hourly rate | $18.97 | $23.33 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 12,816 | 49,875 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Using their knowledge and expertise of all construction disciplines, a general foreman plans and oversees operations within a construction site to ensure that everything is running smoothly. They are typically in charge of conducting regular inspections, coordinating with engineers and architects, managing the budget and expenditures, supervising workers, and ensuring that the project moves according to the desired time frame. Furthermore, a general foreman implements all safety regulations and policies to ensure a safe and productive work environment for everyone.
Contractor assistants and general foremen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contractor Assistant | General Foreman | |
| Average salary | $39,453 | $48,517 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $46,000 | Between $37,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Saint Louis, MO |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Pacifi |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a contractor assistant and a general foreman in terms of educational background:
| Contractor Assistant | General Foreman | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between contractor assistants' and general foremen' demographics:
| Contractor Assistant | General Foreman | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.2% Female, 31.8% | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 5.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 1.4% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |