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The differences between framers and finish 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 framer and a finish carpenter. Additionally, a finish carpenter has an average salary of $46,987, which is higher than the $34,298 average annual salary of a framer.
The top three skills for a framer include customer service, safety rules and nail guns. The most important skills for a finish carpenter are hand tools, custom cabinets, and safety rules.
| Framer | Finish Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $34,298 | $46,987 |
| Hourly rate | $16.49 | $22.59 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,247 | 11,653 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A framer is responsible for devising work plans and assembling the framework structure essential for constructing houses and other facilities. Moreover, they are also responsible for finding the appropriate materials needed for the project, setting the budget, managing the schedule, and consulting with the client for their preferences. The duties of a framer mainly involve physical work and attention to detail. There are instances when one must operate various power tools and equipment, understand blueprints, and even climb up high places.
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.
Framers and finish carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Framer | Finish Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $34,298 | $46,987 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $45,000 | Between $34,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Apple Valley, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Builders FirstSource | Turner Construction |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a framer and a finish carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Framer | Finish Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between framers' and finish carpenters' demographics:
| Framer | Finish Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.6% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |