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The differences between carpenters and handymen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a carpenter, becoming a handyman takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a handyman has an average salary of $44,648, which is higher than the $41,748 average annual salary of a carpenter.
The top three skills for a carpenter include hand tools, ladders and install windows. The most important skills for a handyman are plumbing, customer service, and drywall repair.
| Carpenter | Handyman | |
| Yearly Salary | $41,748 | $44,648 |
| Hourly rate | $20.07 | $21.47 |
| Growth Rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number Of Jobs | 5,862 | 3,371 |
| Job Satisfaction | 4.86 | 4.5 |
| Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Average Age | 42 | 47 |
| Years Of Experience | 12 | 4 |
A carpenter is a skilled worker responsible for different areas of construction. Carpenters perform fabrication from raw materials. They use tools to create a successful finished product on their client's request. Carpenters must be able to multi-task, resolve any possible complications, strictly follow safety standards, and ensure that the project adheres to protocols without compromising quality and accuracy of work. Since carpentry is physical labor, carpenters are expected to be physically fit to accomplish various maintenance and production tasks.
A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company. Furthermore, a handyman must also discuss the extent of repairs to clients, even sharing insights on maintaining facilities in good condition. There are instances when a handyman may be required to work in a group setting, which requires an active line of communication and coordination.
Carpenters and handymen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Carpenter | Handyman | |
| Average Salary | $41,748 | $44,648 |
| Salary Range | Between $31,000 And $54,000 | Between $32,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest Paying City | New York, NY | Silver Spring, MD |
| Highest Paying State | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best Paying Company | Argonne National Laboratory | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Best Paying Industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a carpenter and a handyman in terms of educational background:
| Carpenter | Handyman | |
| Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most Common Major | Business | Business |
| Most Common College | - | - |
Here are the differences between carpenters' and handymen' demographics:
| Carpenter | Handyman | |
| Average Age | 42 | 47 |
| Gender Ratio | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% |
| Race Ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 4.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |