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The differences between union carpenters and carpenter helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a union carpenter and a carpenter helper. Additionally, a union carpenter has an average salary of $46,816, which is higher than the $34,192 average annual salary of a carpenter helper.
The top three skills for a union carpenter include safety rules, drywall installation and stud. The most important skills for a carpenter helper are hand tools, ladders, and safety rules.
| Union Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Yearly salary | $46,816 | $34,192 |
| Hourly rate | $22.51 | $16.44 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,009 | 29,208 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Union Carpenter is a skilled tradesman who works with wood and any other building trade materials. Union carpenters are national union members who are doing carpentry tasks. They negotiate on behalf of the union members. Often, they receive higher wages due to the collective representation and bargaining from the union. They also make drywall repair, custom cabinets, window frames, rough carpentry, safety rules, and project layout.
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.
Union carpenters and carpenter helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Union Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Average salary | $46,816 | $34,192 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $63,000 | Between $25,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Northampton, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Black & Veatch |
| Best paying industry | - | Construction |
There are a few differences between a union carpenter and a carpenter helper in terms of educational background:
| Union Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between union carpenters' and carpenter helpers' demographics:
| Union Carpenter | Carpenter Helper | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.6% White, 61.8% 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 Percentage | 2% | 2% |