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The differences between finish carpenters and trim carpenters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a finish carpenter and a trim carpenter. Additionally, a finish carpenter has an average salary of $46,987, which is higher than the $45,718 average annual salary of a trim carpenter.
The top three skills for a finish carpenter include hand tools, custom cabinets and safety rules. The most important skills for a trim carpenter are hand tools, work ethic, and window sills.
| Finish Carpenter | Trim Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $46,987 | $45,718 |
| Hourly rate | $22.59 | $21.98 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,653 | 4,929 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Finish carpenters are skilled professionals who perform the final touches on homes after the structure is fully built. These carpenters must carry out various tasks such as installing doors, building bookshelves, and adding designs to window and door trims. They are required to follow work from sketches and drawings to complete the job to the right specifications as well as collecting the correct materials before beginning a job. Finish carpenters must also dismantle and demolish before carrying out repairs or installing new materials.
A Trim Carpenter is a specialized worker whose task is to install and carry out repairs on molds and trim found on doors, windows, baseboards, and other ornamental pieces. He's also called a Finish Carpenter because his/her job also entails carrying out "finishing," generally making a carpentry project look detailed and defined in appearance, shape, and texture. Aside from leveling and trimming of windows and doors, you will also have to create pieces of customized woodworks that can serve as accessories for wooden fixtures.
Finish carpenters and trim carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Finish Carpenter | Trim Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $46,987 | $45,718 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $63,000 | Between $34,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Taunton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Turner Construction | General Electric |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a finish carpenter and a trim carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Finish Carpenter | Trim Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between finish carpenters' and trim carpenters' demographics:
| Finish Carpenter | Trim Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |