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Lead installer vs finish carpenter

The differences between lead installers 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 installer and a finish carpenter. Additionally, a lead installer has an average salary of $59,596, which is higher than the $46,987 average annual salary of a finish carpenter.

The top three skills for a lead installer include HVAC, customer service and hand tools. The most important skills for a finish carpenter are hand tools, custom cabinets, and safety rules.

Lead installer vs finish carpenter overview

Lead InstallerFinish Carpenter
Yearly salary$59,596$46,987
Hourly rate$28.65$22.59
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs17,80811,653
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 38%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age4242
Years of experience1212

What does a lead installer do?

Lead installers are individuals who execute residential construction activities. The installers review the organization's blueprints with its sales, supervise the loading and unloading procedure, and manage the crew during the installation process. They set up and maintain the workstations, maintain the VoIP phone systems, and construct the cubicles for modular offices. The necessary skills for this job include customer service, knowledge of the installation process, and attention to detail. They are also expected to develop skills in communication, diligence, and the ability to follow instructions.

What does a finish carpenter do?

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 installer vs finish carpenter salary

Lead installers and finish carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead InstallerFinish Carpenter
Average salary$59,596$46,987
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $91,000Between $34,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WABoston, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonMassachusetts
Best paying companyPFSTurner Construction
Best paying industryEnergyConstruction

Differences between lead installer and finish carpenter education

There are a few differences between a lead installer and a finish carpenter in terms of educational background:

Lead InstallerFinish Carpenter
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 38%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Lead installer vs finish carpenter demographics

Here are the differences between lead installers' and finish carpenters' demographics:

Lead InstallerFinish Carpenter
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 95.6% Female, 4.4%Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.0% Asian, 1.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%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 Percentage2%2%

Differences between lead installer and finish carpenter duties and responsibilities

Lead installer example responsibilities.

  • Manage crew working on Nortel CDMA network doing upgrades at cell site.
  • Install battery plants, rectifiers, power distribution bays, and fuse panels.
  • Repair and replace condensers, compressors, pumps, valves, furnace, air handlers, and coils.
  • Install telecommunication equipment; routers, switches, connections and programming features following industry standards.
  • Sprint mobile and Ericsson wireless.
  • Team member for FBI LAN install Washington DC.
  • Show more

Finish carpenter example responsibilities.

  • Install cabinets, vinyl, FRP, carpet, windows, Sheetrock, painting, HVAC
  • Assist with electrical wiring and HVAC installation.
  • Operate tools like lather, drills, sanders and planers.
  • Demo rooms and add on with new framing Sheetrock and flooring.
  • Assist HVAC technicians with changing filters and belts on the air handler units.
  • Complete demo of existing cabinets, tile, drywall, electrical wirings, appliances etc.
  • Show more

Lead installer vs finish carpenter skills

Common lead installer skills
  • HVAC, 17%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Hand Tools, 11%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%
  • Windows, 6%
  • Roofing, 6%
Common finish carpenter skills
  • Hand Tools, 19%
  • Custom Cabinets, 13%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 4%
  • Door Hardware, 4%
  • Window Installation, 3%

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