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The differences between lead carpenters and construction assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, which is higher than the $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.
The top three skills for a lead carpenter include safety rules, roofing and plumbing. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.
| Lead Carpenter | Construction Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $49,228 | $39,072 |
| Hourly rate | $23.67 | $18.78 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 6,359 | 31,209 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 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 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.
Lead carpenters and construction assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Carpenter | Construction Assistant | |
| Average salary | $49,228 | $39,072 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $28,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Springfield, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Brasfield & Gorrie | Beazer Homes |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a lead carpenter and a construction assistant in terms of educational background:
| Lead Carpenter | Construction Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead carpenters' and construction assistants' demographics:
| Lead Carpenter | Construction Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3% |
| 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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |