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The differences between union carpenters and lead 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 lead carpenter. Additionally, a lead carpenter has an average salary of $49,228, 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 lead carpenter are safety rules, roofing, and plumbing.
| Union Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $46,816 | $49,228 |
| Hourly rate | $22.51 | $23.67 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,009 | 6,359 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| 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 lead carpenter is responsible for monitoring field carpenters on performing construction duties, analyzing schematics and blueprints, following clients' specifications, completing the project within the agreed timeframe, and maintaining materials with the budget goals, ensuring the highest quality and client's satisfaction. Lead carpenters regularly inspect the project, perform adjustments as needed, repair defects and inconsistencies, and adhere to the safety standards and protocols during operations. A lead carpenter must have excellent knowledge of the carpentry industry to handle clients' demands and efficiently create the finished product.
Union carpenters and lead carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Union Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $46,816 | $49,228 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $63,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Brasfield & Gorrie |
| Best paying industry | - | Construction |
There are a few differences between a union carpenter and a lead carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Union Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between union carpenters' and lead carpenters' demographics:
| Union Carpenter | Lead Carpenter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |