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The differences between lead carpenters and finish carpenters 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 finish carpenter. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, which is higher than the $46,987 average annual salary of a finish carpenter.
The top three skills for a lead carpenter include safety rules, roofing and plumbing. The most important skills for a finish carpenter are hand tools, custom cabinets, and safety rules.
| Lead Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $49,228 | $46,987 |
| Hourly rate | $23.67 | $22.59 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 6,359 | 11,653 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| 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.
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.
Lead carpenters and finish carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $49,228 | $46,987 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $34,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Brasfield & Gorrie | Turner Construction |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a lead carpenter and a finish carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Lead Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead carpenters' and finish carpenters' demographics:
| Lead Carpenter | Finish Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% |
| 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, 7.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |