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The differences between lead carpenters and carpenter helpers 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 helper. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, which is higher than the $34,192 average annual salary of a carpenter helper.
The top three skills for a lead carpenter include safety rules, roofing and plumbing. The most important skills for a carpenter helper are hand tools, ladders, and safety rules.
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Yearly salary | $49,228 | $34,192 |
| Hourly rate | $23.67 | $16.44 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 6,359 | 29,208 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| 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 helper is responsible for assisting carpenters with the construction duties, performing construction tasks as needed, and ensuring the completion of the project timely and efficiently. Carpenter helpers maintain the construction tools and equipment, including cleaning the materials before and after every use and inspecting for any possible defects. They also help with measuring surfaces to establish reference points for the installment of systems and other construction materials. A carpenter helper must have excellent communication and organizational skills, having the initiative to perform heavy-duty tasks under minimal supervision.
Lead carpenters and carpenter helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Average salary | $49,228 | $34,192 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $25,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Northampton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Brasfield & Gorrie | Black & Veatch |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a lead carpenter and a carpenter helper in terms of educational background:
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead carpenters' and carpenter helpers' demographics:
| Lead Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% |
| 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, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |