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Plumber vs carpenter helper

The differences between plumbers and carpenter helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a plumber, becoming a carpenter helper takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a plumber has an average salary of $55,337, which is higher than the $34,192 average annual salary of a carpenter helper.

The top three skills for a plumber include plumbing, hand tools and plumbers. The most important skills for a carpenter helper are hand tools, ladders, and safety rules.

Plumber vs carpenter helper overview

PlumberCarpenter Helper
Yearly salary$55,337$34,192
Hourly rate$26.60$16.44
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs12,30729,208
Job satisfaction4.4-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 53%
Average age4242
Years of experience412

What does a plumber do?

Plumbers specialize in assembling, detecting issues, maintaining, and repairing pipes and systems that can either involve water or gas distribution in a home or establishment, ensuring that they function efficiently. Additionally, Plumbers can also install various materials such as kitchen or bathroom sinks, toilets, appliances, and more. Among the tasks may revolve around training other plumbers or coordinating with other workers involved on a project, clearing obstructions and handling waste disposal, informing clients about the costs and process of repairs, and building rapport with them.

What does a carpenter helper do?

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.

Plumber vs carpenter helper salary

Plumbers and carpenter helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

PlumberCarpenter Helper
Average salary$55,337$34,192
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $84,000Between $25,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WANorthampton, MA
Highest paying stateOregonMassachusetts
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictBlack & Veatch
Best paying industryFinanceConstruction

Differences between plumber and carpenter helper education

There are a few differences between a plumber and a carpenter helper in terms of educational background:

PlumberCarpenter Helper
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Plumber vs carpenter helper demographics

Here are the differences between plumbers' and carpenter helpers' demographics:

PlumberCarpenter Helper
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 96.5% Female, 3.5%Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.2% 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 Percentage2%2%

Differences between plumber and carpenter helper duties and responsibilities

Plumber example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
  • Replace old copper and cast iron plumbing, install PEX water lines, CPVC lines and PVC lines.
  • Learned how to read blueprints, use plumbing math and read sub/spec data.
  • Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using various techniques, including caulking, soldering, and brazing.
  • Install, repair and maintain plumbing systems and components including toilets, urinals, faucets, hose bibs drains, etc.
  • Dig trenches for new pipeline.
  • Show more

Carpenter helper example responsibilities.

  • Put up and dismantle scaffolding, shoring, bracing, ladders, handrails, platforms and gangways.
  • Cut and put up Sheetrock, as well as cement board.
  • Apply caulking compounds by hand and with caulking gun to seal crevices.
  • Assist lead carpenter with various jobs, including hanging Sheetrock and painting.
  • Assist in demo and construction of homes with water and/or fire damage.
  • Assist lead carpenter of demo and remodeling that mainly consist in kitchen and bathrooms.
  • Show more

Plumber vs carpenter helper skills

Common plumber skills
  • Plumbing, 23%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Plumbers, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Cast Iron, 4%
  • Pipe Systems, 4%
Common carpenter helper skills
  • Hand Tools, 30%
  • Ladders, 13%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Scaffolding, 6%
  • Door Frames, 6%
  • Caulking, 4%

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