What does a Framer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does a Framer do

A framer is responsible for devising work plans and assembling the framework structure essential for constructing houses and other facilities. Moreover, they are also responsible for finding the appropriate materials needed for the project, setting the budget, managing the schedule, and consulting with the client for their preferences. The duties of a framer mainly involve physical work and attention to detail. There are instances when one must operate various power tools and equipment, understand blueprints, and even climb up high places.

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Framer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real framer resumes:

  • Build walls, soffits, bulkheads, jigs.
  • Build walls, soffits, bulk heads, jigs.
  • Help set up temporary scaffolding.
  • Install siding and shingles to exterior.
  • Light demo clean up and organization of construction materials.
  • Used impact drills, drivers, cut metal studs with snips
  • Apply adhesives, caulking, sealants, or coatings where need.
  • Build cheesecake factorys framing dry wall stucco ceiling tiles FRP finishing fire escape hatches
  • Install roofing materials including shingles, tile and metal roofing according to blueprint specifications.
  • Assist with rough in /installations of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC mechanical systems.
  • Install FRP, vinyl laminate, carpets, vinyl floors doors, window and paint
  • Erect forms, framework, and scaffolds, hoists using hand tools, plumb rule, and level.
  • Cut out openings for electrical and other outlets, windows, and doors using knife, see, and router.
  • Cut openings into board for electrical outlets, windows, vents, or fixtures using keyhole see or other cutting tools.
  • Restore damage homes due to water or fire damage, including demo damage framing, drywal, truses, electrical etc ...

Framer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 26% of Framers are proficient in Customer Service, Safety Rules, and Nail Guns. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Detail oriented, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Framers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 26%

    Coordinated project management aspects of projects and interfaced with customers to provide excellent customer service.

  • Safety Rules, 13%

    Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean work environment.

  • Nail Guns, 10%

    Carry lumber, use nail guns to build walls, hang beams, ceiling joist and rafters.

  • Tape Measure, 10%

    Measured art work using tape measure to assure proper glass and Frame size, cut glass and assembled frame.

  • Window Frames, 6%

    General warehouse duties assembling window frames

  • Sheetrock, 3%

    General framing, Fabricating, Layout, Siding, Roofing, Sheetrock.

Common skills that a framer uses to do their job include "customer service," "safety rules," and "nail guns." You can find details on the most important framer responsibilities below.

Business skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a framer to have is business skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "self-employed carpenters must conduct activities such as bidding on new jobs, tracking inventory, and directing workers." Framers often use business skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "frame commercial and residential homes and businesses. "

Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform framer duties is detail oriented. Framers responsibilities require that "carpenters must be able to precisely cut, measure, and modify the materials they work with." Framers also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "train new team members on the details of great framing(sales and production) general sales floor representative requirements. "

Problem-solving skills. framers are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to framer responsibilities, because "carpenters may work independently with little guidance." A framer resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "provided excellent customer service by helping customers find items and helped with returns helped customers to find solutions to crafting problems"

Dexterity. A big part of what framers do relies on "dexterity." You can see how essential it is to framer responsibilities because "carpenters use many tools and need hand-eye coordination to avoid injuring themselves or damaging materials." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical framer tasks: "brief operating of ghel forklift, building walls and framing windows, along with setting and placing trusses on residential homes. "

Math skills. A commonly-found skill in framer job descriptions, "math skills" is essential to what framers do. Framer responsibilities rely on this skill because "carpenters frequently use math skills, including basic trigonometry, to calculate the area, size, and amount of material needed for the job. ." You can also see how framer duties rely on math skills in this resume example: "job requirements: reading of blue prints, framing houses, mathematics, structural design"

Physical strength. While "physical strength" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to framer responsibilities. Much of what a framer does relies on this skill, seeing as "carpenters use heavy tools and materials that weigh up to 100 pounds." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of framers: "perform task involving physical labor at building, heavy construction projects, mainly residential. "

See the full list of framer skills

The three companies that hire the most framers are:

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Compare different framers

Framer vs. Carpenter assistant

A Carpenter Foreman supervises the work of a group of people engaged in carpentry, locksmith, or bricklaying work. They inspect buildings or other structures reported to be in need of repair and estimate the necessary time and materials for restoring them.

If we compare the average framer annual salary with that of a carpenter assistant, we find that carpenter assistants typically earn a $2,919 higher salary than framers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between framers and carpenter assistants are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like safety rules, nail guns, and tape measure.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a framer are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "taking care," "window frames," and "staple gun." On the other hand, a job as a carpenter assistant requires skills like "roofing," "drywall installation," "door installation," and "window installation." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Carpenter assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than framers. In fact, carpenter assistants are 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Framer vs. Carpenter foreman

A cabinet installer specializes in installing cabinets in homes and establishments. Their responsibilities revolve around meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, measuring the area for installation, maintaining records, developing plans and strategies, attaching units to the wall, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. There are also instances when they must cut wood and even participate in constructing the cabinet. Moreover, a cabinet installer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.

A career as a carpenter foreman brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a framer. In fact, carpenter foremen salary is $24,624 higher than the salary of framers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both framers and carpenter foremen have skills such as "safety rules," "window frames," and "sheetrock. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, framer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "taking care," "nail guns," and "tape measure." Meanwhile, a carpenter foreman has duties that require skills in areas such as "osha," "drywall installation," "sub contractors," and "formwork." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, carpenter foremen earn a higher salary than framers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, carpenter foremen earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $65,909. Whereas framers have higher pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $39,620.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Carpenter foremen tend to reach similar levels of education than framers. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Framer vs. Cabinet installer

Carpenters/ Laborers do general maintenance tasks and help in mechanical and carpentry-related jobs. Carpenters are versatile workers and perform different construction duties. They construct, install, erect, and repair structures and fixtures. Blueprints and building plans are followed by carpenters to meet their customer's needs. Typically, they install structures and fixtures like windows and molding. They also construct building frameworks like floors, walls, and door frames. Additionally, they operate forklifts, wheel loaders, skid steers, and similar equipment. Qualified applicants need manual dexterity, a good sense of balance as well as hand-eye coordination and must be physically fit.

On average scale, cabinet installers bring in higher salaries than framers. In fact, they earn a $6,895 higher salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on framers and cabinet installers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "customer service," "safety rules," and "nail guns.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a framer is likely to be skilled in "taking care," "window frames," "sheetrock," and "staple gun," while a typical cabinet installer is skilled in "hand tools," "work ethic," "custom cabinets," and "customer satisfaction."

Cabinet installers earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $43,959. Framers earn the highest pay from the construction industry, with an average salary of $39,620.Most cabinet installers achieve a similar degree level compared to framers. For example, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Framer vs. Carpenter/labour

Carpenter/labours typically earn higher pay than framers. On average, carpenter/labours earn a $1,833 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, framers and carpenter/labours both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "safety rules," "nail guns," and "tape measure. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between framers and carpenter/labours, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a framer might have more use for skills like "customer service," "taking care," "window frames," and "staple gun." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of carpenter/labours require skills like "roofing," "drywall installation," "door installation," and "window installation. "

Carpenter/labours enjoy the best pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $42,011. For comparison, framers earn the highest salary in the construction industry.The average resume of carpenter/labours showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to framers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of framer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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