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The differences between residential construction instructors and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a residential construction instructor, becoming a general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, which is higher than the $50,399 average annual salary of a residential construction instructor.
The top three skills for a residential construction instructor include plumbing, OSHA and construction trades. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Residential Construction Instructor | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $50,399 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $24.23 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 58,693 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
As the name entails, the job of a residential construction instructor is to teach students about residential construction. You will perform a variety of tasks that include supervising and supporting students. Residential construction instructors provide students with retention strategies and deliver a curriculum to students that fosters skills in residential construction. Additionally, the instructors will be responsible for encouraging and motivating students to become empowered in their field, and to reach personal outcomes.
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
Residential construction instructors and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Construction Instructor | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $50,399 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $78,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a residential construction instructor and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Residential Construction Instructor | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between residential construction instructors' and general contractors' demographics:
| Residential Construction Instructor | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 4% |