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General foreman vs finish carpenter

The differences between general foremen and finish carpenters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a general foreman, becoming a finish carpenter takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a general foreman has an average salary of $48,517, which is higher than the $46,987 average annual salary of a finish carpenter.

The top three skills for a general foreman include safety procedures, OSHA and safety rules. The most important skills for a finish carpenter are hand tools, custom cabinets, and safety rules.

General foreman vs finish carpenter overview

General ForemanFinish Carpenter
Yearly salary$48,517$46,987
Hourly rate$23.33$22.59
Growth rate-3%2%
Number of jobs49,87511,653
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age4642
Years of experience-12

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 finish carpenter do?

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.

General foreman vs finish carpenter salary

General foremen and finish carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.

General ForemanFinish Carpenter
Average salary$48,517$46,987
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $62,000Between $34,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CitySaint Louis, MOBoston, MA
Highest paying stateConnecticutMassachusetts
Best paying companyPacifiTurner Construction
Best paying industryConstructionConstruction

Differences between general foreman and finish carpenter education

There are a few differences between a general foreman and a finish carpenter in terms of educational background:

General ForemanFinish Carpenter
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

General foreman vs finish carpenter demographics

Here are the differences between general foremen' and finish carpenters' demographics:

General ForemanFinish Carpenter
Average age4642
Gender ratioMale, 97.0% Female, 3.0%Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5%
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, 7.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between general foreman and finish carpenter 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

Finish carpenter example responsibilities.

  • Install cabinets, vinyl, FRP, carpet, windows, Sheetrock, painting, HVAC
  • Assist with electrical wiring and HVAC installation.
  • Operate tools like lather, drills, sanders and planers.
  • Demo rooms and add on with new framing Sheetrock and flooring.
  • Assist HVAC technicians with changing filters and belts on the air handler units.
  • Complete demo of existing cabinets, tile, drywall, electrical wirings, appliances etc.
  • Show more

General foreman vs finish carpenter skills

Common general foreman skills
  • Safety Procedures, 11%
  • OSHA, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 8%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • Oversight, 5%
  • Safety Policies, 5%
Common finish carpenter skills
  • Hand Tools, 19%
  • Custom Cabinets, 13%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 4%
  • Door Hardware, 4%
  • Window Installation, 3%

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