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The differences between union carpenters and journeyman 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 union carpenter and a journeyman carpenter. Additionally, a journeyman carpenter has an average salary of $48,428, which is higher than the $46,816 average annual salary of a union carpenter.
The top three skills for a union carpenter include safety rules, drywall installation and stud. The most important skills for a journeyman carpenter are hand tools, safety rules, and work ethic.
| Union Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $46,816 | $48,428 |
| Hourly rate | $22.51 | $23.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,009 | 8,871 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| 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.
Journeyman carpenters perform carpentry work in buildings and repair structures and elements, primarily by using wood and metal. Journeyman carpenters work directly in a team while reporting to a foreman. Most construction companies, builders, and construction staff hire journeyman carpenters to work mostly during daytime weekday shifts, but evening shifts, weekend, and on-call basis hours are sometimes required. Travel is commonly required for this job, as journeyman carpenters go to and from different supply houses, job sites, and the company shop.
Union carpenters and journeyman carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Union Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $46,816 | $48,428 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $63,000 | Between $36,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Construction |
There are a few differences between a union carpenter and a journeyman carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Union Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between union carpenters' and journeyman carpenters' demographics:
| Union Carpenter | Journeyman Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.6% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |