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General foreman vs construction assistant

The differences between general foremen and construction assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a general foreman has an average salary of $48,517, which is higher than the $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.

The top three skills for a general foreman include safety procedures, OSHA and safety rules. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.

General foreman vs construction assistant overview

General ForemanConstruction Assistant
Yearly salary$48,517$39,072
Hourly rate$23.33$18.78
Growth rate-3%4%
Number of jobs49,87531,209
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4639
Years of experience--

What does a general foreman do?

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.

What does a construction assistant do?

A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.

General foreman vs construction assistant salary

General foremen and construction assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

General ForemanConstruction Assistant
Average salary$48,517$39,072
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $62,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CitySaint Louis, MOSpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateConnecticutHawaii
Best paying companyPacifiBeazer Homes
Best paying industryConstructionConstruction

Differences between general foreman and construction assistant education

There are a few differences between a general foreman and a construction assistant in terms of educational background:

General ForemanConstruction Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

General foreman vs construction assistant demographics

Here are the differences between general foremen' and construction assistants' demographics:

General ForemanConstruction Assistant
Average age4639
Gender ratioMale, 97.0% Female, 3.0%Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between general foreman and construction assistant duties and responsibilities

General foreman example responsibilities.

  • Manage and supervise residential remodel and new construction projects.
  • Install EMT, ridge, and PVC conduit systems for the protection and utilization of electrical wiring.
  • Work with many types of PVC style roof systems ..
  • Instruct on how to properly rig parts on flat bar, load and unload trucks
  • Clean and maintain seal coat rig including removing and replacing gaskets, spools and pipe.
  • Work involve using of hand and power tools, wedges, dogs, and turnbuckles.
  • Show more

Construction assistant example responsibilities.

  • Fix electrical fixtures and manage plumbing problems effectively.
  • Employ a wide verity of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electronic testing devices.
  • Negotiate material sales contracts, document historical information, provide earned value management, and safety oversight for projects/programs.
  • Prepare plans and specifications for new and existing housing, supervise sub-contractors to insure compliance with HUD requirements.

General foreman vs construction assistant skills

Common general foreman skills
  • Safety Procedures, 11%
  • OSHA, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 8%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • Oversight, 5%
  • Safety Policies, 5%
Common construction assistant skills
  • Safety Procedures, 15%
  • Construction Projects, 11%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Manual Labor, 4%

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