What does a rough carpenter do?
Rough carpenter responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real rough carpenter resumes:
- Experience with an assortment of power and air tools OSHA safety standards.
- Frame and insulate walls-Completed demo work-instal cabinets, flooring, and new trim-Made and finish trim-Constructed stairway
- Advance knowledge of architectural millwork.
Rough carpenter skills and personality traits
We calculated that 43% of Rough Carpenters are proficient in Hand Tools, OSHA, and Construction Projects. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Detail oriented, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Rough Carpenters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hand Tools, 43%
Used various measuring tools and hand tools.
- OSHA, 15%
Follow established safety rules and regulations as specified by OSHA and maintain a safe and clean work environment.
- Construction Projects, 10%
Worked with new construction projects building homes according to blueprints and safety procedures
- Power Saws, 7%
Operated Power Saws and pneumatic equipment
- Tape Measure, 5%
Measured and marked location of studs, receptacle openings, using tape measure, template, and marker.
- Window Frames, 3%
Complete rough frame work with metal and wood framing, hang door/window frames, hang metal columns.
"hand tools," "osha," and "construction projects" are among the most common skills that rough carpenters use at work. You can find even more rough carpenter responsibilities below, including:
Business skills. One of the key soft skills for a rough carpenter to have is business skills. You can see how this relates to what rough carpenters do because "self-employed carpenters must conduct activities such as bidding on new jobs, tracking inventory, and directing workers." Additionally, a rough carpenter resume shows how rough carpenters use business skills: "layed ceramic tile and hardwood floors for business' and homes. "
Detail oriented. Many rough carpenter duties rely on detail oriented. "carpenters must be able to precisely cut, measure, and modify the materials they work with.," so a rough carpenter will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways rough carpenter responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "conducted detailed inpections of all hvac equipment on customers sites. "
Dexterity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of rough carpenters is dexterity. This skill is critical to many everyday rough carpenter duties, as "carpenters use many tools and need hand-eye coordination to avoid injuring themselves or damaging materials." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "operate loaders, excavators, and lowe lifts. Work with power tools and hand tools working with wood. "
Math skills. For certain rough carpenter responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a rough carpenter rely on this skill, as "carpenters frequently use math skills, including basic trigonometry, to calculate the area, size, and amount of material needed for the job. ." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what rough carpenters do: "learned to square up foundation lines and walls using mathematics. "
Physical strength. A commonly-found skill in rough carpenter job descriptions, "physical strength" is essential to what rough carpenters do. Rough carpenter responsibilities rely on this skill because "carpenters use heavy tools and materials that weigh up to 100 pounds." You can also see how rough carpenter duties rely on physical strength in this resume example: "organized material and tools operated hand tools and power equipment performed tasks involving physical labor mcdonalds"
Problem-solving skills. Lastly, "problem-solving skills" is an important element of what a rough carpenter does. Rough carpenter responsibilities require this skill because "carpenters may work independently with little guidance." This resume example highlights how rough carpenter duties rely on this skill: "performed maintenance solutions such as: carpentry, window installations, and painting. "
The three companies that hire the most rough carpenters are:
- PeopleReady5 rough carpenters jobs
- Aerotek4 rough carpenters jobs
- Dondlinger Construction3 rough carpenters jobs
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Rough carpenter vs. Pallet builder
Installers are assigned to assemble equipment or fixtures in the client's work or home area. They should have extensive knowledge of the product they will install to ensure it works as intended. They should also be familiar with handling different tools, especially those that would help them build the product. Installers should be able to walk the client through how to use the product. They should also be able to answer any inquiries that the client may have. Installers should have quick decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, and creativity.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between rough carpenters and pallet builder. For instance, rough carpenter responsibilities require skills such as "hand tools," "osha," "misc," and "construction projects." Whereas a pallet builder is skilled in "pallets," "electric pallet jack," "build pallets," and "safety standards." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Pallet builders tend to make the most money working in the hospitality industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,282. In contrast, rough carpenters make the biggest average salary, $46,738, in the construction industry.On average, pallet builders reach similar levels of education than rough carpenters. Pallet builders are 1.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Rough carpenter vs. Installer
Builders are responsible for managing, coordinating, and working on the construction. They are also responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial and residential buildings. They oversee a project by either making arrangements with subcontractors to finish specific jobs or doing the work themselves. Builders need to ensure that the construction projects meet their client's requirements as well as the government and industry regulations. They often perform their work in an industrial setting. Their day-to-day activity depends on their specialization and level of experience.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, rough carpenter responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "hand tools," "osha," "misc," and "construction projects." Meanwhile, an installer has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "windows," "plumbing," and "work ethic." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Installers earn a lower average salary than rough carpenters. But installers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $40,956. Additionally, rough carpenters earn the highest salaries in the construction with average pay of $46,738 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Installers tend to reach similar levels of education than rough carpenters. In fact, they're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Rough carpenter vs. Builder
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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, rough carpenters are more likely to have skills like "hand tools," "osha," "misc," and "power saws." But a builder is more likely to have skills like "work ethic," "safety rules," "c #," and "windows."
Builders make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $42,512. On the other hand, rough carpenters are paid the highest salary in the construction industry, with average annual pay of $46,738.When it comes to education, builders tend to earn similar degree levels compared to rough carpenters. In fact, they're 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Rough carpenter vs. Lead installer
Types of rough carpenter
Updated January 8, 2025











