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The differences between general contractors and builders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a general contractor, becoming a builder takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, which is higher than the $33,117 average annual salary of a builder.
The top three skills for a general contractor include plumbing, safety regulations and contract negotiations. The most important skills for a builder are work ethic, safety rules, and construction sites.
| General Contractor | Builder | |
| Yearly salary | $66,602 | $33,117 |
| Hourly rate | $32.02 | $15.92 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 66,218 | 4,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 12 |
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
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.
General contractors and builders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Contractor | Builder | |
| Average salary | $66,602 | $33,117 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $107,000 | Between $24,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a general contractor and a builder in terms of educational background:
| General Contractor | Builder | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | - |
Here are the differences between general contractors' and builders' demographics:
| General Contractor | Builder | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 4% | 2% |