Helpers--Carpenters
Career Overview
Career Description: Help carpenters by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Industry: Construction and Extraction
Other Job Titles for Helpers--Carpenters:
- Pipelayers
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Construction Carpenters
- Construction Laborers
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
- Shuttle Car Operators
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Personality Profile
- Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
- Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
- Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
Common Work Tasks
- Position and hold timbers, lumber, and paneling in place for fastening or cutting.
- Erect scaffolding, shoring, and braces.
- Select tools, equipment, and materials from storage and transport items to work site.
- Fasten timbers or lumber with glue, screws, pegs, or nails and install hardware.
- Clean work areas, machines, and equipment, to maintain a clean and safe jobsite.
- Hold plumb bobs, sighting rods, or other equipment to aid in establishing reference points and lines.
- Align, straighten, plumb, and square forms for installation.
- Cut timbers, lumber and/or paneling to specified dimensions, and drill holes in timbers or lumber.
- Smooth and sand surfaces to remove ridges, tool marks, glue, or caulking.
- Perform tie spacing layout and measure, mark, drill or cut.
- Secure stakes to grids for constructions of footings, nail scabs to footing forms, and vibrate and float concrete.
- Construct forms and assist in raising them to the required elevation.
- Install handrails under the direction of a carpenter.
- Glue and clamp edges or joints of assembled parts.
- Cut and install insulating or sound-absorbing material.
- Cut tile or linoleum to fit and spread adhesives on flooring for installation.
- Cover surfaces with laminated plastic covering material.
- Grind and polish glass, and smooth edges when necessary.
- Prepare glass for cutting by resting it on rack edges or against cutting tables, and brushing thin layer of oil along cutting lines or dipping cutting tools in oil.
- Pack spaces between moldings and glass with glazing compounds, and trim excess material with glazing knives.
- Operate cranes or hoists with suction cups to lift large, heavy pieces of glass.
- Confer with customers to determine project requirements and to provide cost estimates.
- Select the type and color of glass or mirror according to specifications.
- Move furniture to clear work sites, and cover floors and furnishings with drop cloths.
- Assemble and cement sections of stained glass together.
- Measure, cut, fit, and press anti-glare adhesive film to glass, or spray glass with tinting solution to prevent light glare.
- Create patterns on glass by etching, sandblasting, or painting designs.
- Observe odometers, weight indicators, and instrument panels in trucks in order to position guns at predetermined points in wells.
- Repair electrical instruments, using electricians' hand tools.
- Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.
Emerging Tasks
- Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.
- Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
- Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
Work Activities
- Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Detailed Work Activities
- adhere to safety procedures
- anchor or brace wooden structures, frameworks, or forms
- apply adhesives, caulking, sealants, or coatings
- assist mechanic, or extractive or construction trades craft worker
- attach moisture barrier sheeting over construction surfaces
- build or repair structures in construction, repair, or manufacturing setting
- clean equipment or machinery
- clean rooms or work areas
- climb ladders, scaffolding, or utility or telephone poles
- construct, erect, or repair wooden frameworks or structures
- cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
- erect scaffold
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- install carpet, linoleum, tile, or related material onto floors or walls
- install insulating materials
- install prefabricated building components
- install siding or sheeting
- install sub flooring, rough framing, or partitions
- measure and mark reference points or cutting lines on workpieces
- move materials or goods between work areas
- move or fit heavy objects
- perform safety inspections in construction or resource extraction setting
- position, align, or level machines, equipment, or structures
- prepare building surfaces for paint, finishes, wallpaper, or adhesives
- read tape measure
- repair cracks, defects, or damage in installed building materials
- use basic carpentry techniques
- use concrete fabrication techniques
- use hand or power tools
- use hand or power woodworking tools
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- verify trueness of structure using plumb bob or level
- use hand or power tools
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- read technical drawings
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
- recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
- recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
- resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
- resolve personnel problems or grievances
- schedule employee work hours
- set priorities for construction workers
- understand construction specifications
- use hand or power tools
- write employee orientation or training materials
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use oscilloscopes in electronics repair
- use soldering equipment
- use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
- use hazardous materials information
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use spray paint equipment
- use surfacing machine to polish terrazzo or concrete
- verify levelness or verticality, using level or plumb bob
- work as a team member
- understand construction specifications
- use basic carpentry techniques
- use basic plumbing techniques
- use building materials for routine building maintenance
- use building or land use regulations
- use concrete fabrication techniques
- use hand or power tools
- use hand or power woodworking tools
- use hazardous materials information
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use oral or written communication techniques
- verify trueness of structure using plumb bob or level
- weld together metal parts, components, or structures
Tools & Technology Used on the Job
- Adjustable wrenches
- Air compressors
- Block planes
- Bosch Punch List
- Braces and bits
- Carpenters' chisels
- Carpenters' levels
- Caulking guns
- Chalk lines
- Circular saws
- Clamping tools
- Claw hammers
- Combination squares
- Concrete floats
- Concrete vibrators
- Cost estimating software
- Craftsman CD Estimator
- Dial calipers
- Drawing and drafting software
- Drywall knives
- Framing squares
- Hand saws
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Intuit Quicken software
- Job costing software
- Ladders
- Layout squares
- Marking gauges
- Measuring tapes
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Miter boxes
- Miter saws
- Notebook computers
- Personal computers
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Plumb bobs
- Power drills
- Power sanders
- Power screwguns
- Precision levels
- Protective ear plugs
- Respirators
- Scaffolding
- Sledgehammers
- Socket wrenches
- Straight screwdrivers
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal Architect
- Utility knives
- Wood files
- Wire brushes
- Wood chisels
- Handheld concrete and coating removal systems
- High-efficiency particulate air HEPA vacuums
- High-pressure water sprayers
- High-temperature protective clothing
- Hoists
- Hydraulic booms
- Hygrometers
- Infrared IR spectrometers
- Internet browser software
- Ladders
- Large trucks
- Lead testing kits
- Level A encapsulated suits
- Level B encapsulated suits
- Light trucks
- Liquid leak detection equipment
- Liquid splash protective clothing
- Mechanical arms
- Moisture meters
- Negative pressure respirators
- Neutron detectors
- Notebook computers
- Nut drivers
- Oleophilic booms
- Operation respond emergency information system OREISTM software
- Oxygen concentration instruments
- Personal air monitors
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Personal protective suits
- pH indicators
- pH meters
- Photoionization detectors PID
- Pneumatic scabbling tools
- Pneumatic scaling tools
- Portable chemical agent detection devices
- Positive displacement vacuum equipment
- Positive pressure self contained breathing apparatus
- Presentation software
- Putty knives
- Radiation survey meters
- Radon testing equipment
- Remote control track robots
- Respirators
- Robotic crawler dredges
- Safety glasses
- Safety gloves
- Sandblasters
- Sanders
- Scaffolding
- Scrapers
- Screwdrivers
- Self-contained protective suits
- Shovels
- Slurry blast equipment
- Soil sampling equipment
- Soil vapor extraction units
- Spreadsheet software
- Steam cleaning equipment
- Steel shot recyclable blasting equipment
- Tablet computers
- Thermoluminescent dosimeters
- Total vapor survey instruments
- Two way radios
- Utility knives
- Vacuum blast equipment
- Vans
- Vapor protective garments
- Ventilation equipment
- Ventilation fans
- Water sampling kits
- Water sampling pumps
- Winches
- Wire cutters
- Word processing software
- Wrenches
- X ray fluorescence XRF lead testing analyzers
- Water blasting equipment
- Wheel cutters
- Wood chisels
- Work order software
- Wire cutters
- Wire strippers
- Wood chisels
- SmartDraw software
- Socrates Contractor's Library
- SoftEmpire Electrical Calculations
- Soldering tools
- Spreadsheet software
- Square shank screwdrivers
- Staple guns
- Strap wrenches
- Tablet computers
- Tape measures
- Tapered reamers
- Tapping tools
- Telescoping lighted pickups
- Tension gauges
- Terminal crimpers
- Test lamps
- Threading dies
- Timberline Office
- Tongue and groove pliers
- Torpedo levels
- Transfer impedance meters
- Truck cranes
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Two way radios
- Universal stripping tools
- Utility cable cutters
- Utility knives
- Volt tick meters
- Voltmeters
- Wattmeters
- Welding equipment
- Welding hoods
- Wheeled wire dispensers
- Winches
- Wire cutters
- Wire dispensers
- Wire dollies
- Wire hand caddies
- Wire loop pullers
- Wire strippers
- Wire wrap guns
- Word processing software
- Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
- Two way radios
- Utility hoists
- Utility knives
- Ventilation fans
- Vernier gauges
- Vise grip pliers
- Water levels
- Wedges
- Welding distribution panels
- Welding machines
- Welding shields
- Welding tip cleaning files
- Welding tips
- Wire brushes
- Wire rope pullers
- Workshop cranes
- X ray inspection equipment
Education, Training & Experience
Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.
Salary & Wages
- Average hourly wage (2007) -$11.70
- Average annual wage (2007) - $24,340.00
Projected Employment Growth
- Projected growth (2006-2016): 11.70%
- Projected need (2006-2016): 12,757
- Employment (2006): 109,060
Related Occupations
- Construction Carpenters
- Construction Laborers
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Pipelayers
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
- Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services
- Shuttle Car Operators
- Tile and Marble Setters




