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The differences between general foremen and general contractors 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 general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, which is higher than the $48,517 average annual salary of a general foreman.
The top three skills for a general foreman include safety procedures, OSHA and safety rules. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| General Foreman | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,517 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $23.33 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 49,875 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 8 |
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.
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.
General foremen and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Foreman | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $48,517 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $62,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Louis, MO | - |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | - |
| Best paying company | Pacifi | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a general foreman and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| General Foreman | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between general foremen' and general contractors' demographics:
| General Foreman | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 4% |