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The differences between lead carpenters and general foremen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a lead carpenter, becoming a general foreman takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, which is higher than the $48,517 average annual salary of a general foreman.
The top three skills for a lead carpenter include safety rules, roofing and plumbing. The most important skills for a general foreman are safety procedures, OSHA, and safety rules.
| Lead Carpenter | General Foreman | |
| Yearly salary | $49,228 | $48,517 |
| Hourly rate | $23.67 | $23.33 |
| Growth rate | 2% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 6,359 | 49,875 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| 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.
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.
Lead carpenters and general foremen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Carpenter | General Foreman | |
| Average salary | $49,228 | $48,517 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $37,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Saint Louis, MO |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Brasfield & Gorrie | Pacifi |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a lead carpenter and a general foreman in terms of educational background:
| Lead Carpenter | General Foreman | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead carpenters' and general foremen' demographics:
| Lead Carpenter | General Foreman | |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% |
| 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, 5.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 1.4% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |