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The differences between lead carpenters and carpenter foremen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a lead carpenter and a carpenter foreman. Additionally, a carpenter foreman has an average salary of $58,922, which is higher than the $49,228 average annual salary of a lead carpenter.
The top three skills for a lead carpenter include safety rules, roofing and plumbing. The most important skills for a carpenter foreman are OSHA, door frames, and construction sites.
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Foreman | |
| Yearly salary | $49,228 | $58,922 |
| Hourly rate | $23.67 | $28.33 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 6,359 | 23,060 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A lead carpenter is responsible for monitoring field carpenters on performing construction duties, analyzing schematics and blueprints, following clients' specifications, completing the project within the agreed timeframe, and maintaining materials with the budget goals, ensuring the highest quality and client's satisfaction. Lead carpenters regularly inspect the project, perform adjustments as needed, repair defects and inconsistencies, and adhere to the safety standards and protocols during operations. A lead carpenter must have excellent knowledge of the carpentry industry to handle clients' demands and efficiently create the finished product.
A Carpenter Foreman supervises the work of a group of people engaged in carpentry, locksmith, or bricklaying work. They inspect buildings or other structures reported to be in need of repair and estimate the necessary time and materials for restoring them.
Lead carpenters and carpenter foremen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Foreman | |
| Average salary | $49,228 | $58,922 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $43,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Brasfield & Gorrie | Swinerton |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a lead carpenter and a carpenter foreman in terms of educational background:
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Foreman | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead carpenters' and carpenter foremen' demographics:
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Foreman | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 97.8% Female, 2.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |