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The differences between form carpenters and builders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a form carpenter and a builder. Additionally, a form carpenter has an average salary of $40,274, which is higher than the $33,117 average annual salary of a builder.
The top three skills for a form carpenter include hand tools, ladders and scaffolding. The most important skills for a builder are work ethic, safety rules, and construction sites.
| Form Carpenter | Builder | |
| Yearly salary | $40,274 | $33,117 |
| Hourly rate | $19.36 | $15.92 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 4,775 | 4,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A form carpenter, also known as a formwork carpenter, specializes in creating frameworks, constructing scaffolding, and assembling forms from different materials such as wood, metal, or even plastic. Most form carpenters work on large-scale commercial projects such as bridges, buildings, and other tall structures. Their daily tasks may also include climbing up high places, lifting moderate to heavy forms, cutting and shaping materials, and securing frameworks before filling them with concrete. Moreover, as a form carpenter, it is crucial to maintain an active communication line with co-workers while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Builders are responsible for managing, coordinating, and working on the construction. They are also responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial and residential buildings. They oversee a project by either making arrangements with subcontractors to finish specific jobs or doing the work themselves. Builders need to ensure that the construction projects meet their client's requirements as well as the government and industry regulations. They often perform their work in an industrial setting. Their day-to-day activity depends on their specialization and level of experience.
Form carpenters and builders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Form Carpenter | Builder | |
| Average salary | $40,274 | $33,117 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $24,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Turner Construction | |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between a form carpenter and a builder in terms of educational background:
| Form Carpenter | Builder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between form carpenters' and builders' demographics:
| Form Carpenter | Builder | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |