Carpenters: Career Profile
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.
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What Tasks Do Carpenters Do?
The core tasks performed by carpenters include:
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Inspect ceiling or floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass, or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.
- Erect scaffolding or ladders for assembling structures above ground level.
Skills and Knowledge
Top carpenters rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Carpenters Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aluminum Siding Applicator
- Aluminum Siding Installer
- Aluminum Siding Mechanic
- Amusement and Recreational Prop Maker
- Asbestos Siding Mechanic
- Assembled Wood Products Repairer
- Beam Builder
- Boat Builder
How Many Carpenters Are There?
There are about 668,151 carpenters working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +4.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Carpenters
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,458 |
| Hourly median | $20.41 |
| 10th percentile | $30,870 |
| 25th percentile | $36,664 |
| 75th percentile | $48,251 |
| 90th percentile | $54,045 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Carpenters Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,970 |
| Illinois | $76,410 |
| California | $74,820 |
| Washington | $73,260 |
| Massachusetts | $71,110 |
| District of Columbia | $66,100 |
| Alaska | $65,150 |
| Minnesota | $64,650 |
| New York | $63,660 |
| Connecticut | $63,510 |
| Nevada | $62,240 |
| Vermont | $62,220 |
| New Jersey | $61,880 |
| Michigan | $61,410 |
| Oregon | $61,170 |
| Missouri | $61,150 |
| Delaware | $61,100 |
| Indiana | $60,510 |
| Rhode Island | $60,510 |
| Wisconsin | $60,390 |
| Maryland | $60,130 |
| New Hampshire | $59,890 |
| Colorado | $59,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,240 |
| Maine | $59,190 |
| North Dakota | $58,390 |
| Ohio | $58,310 |
| Montana | $58,110 |
| Wyoming | $55,870 |
| Arizona | $54,540 |
| Iowa | $54,080 |
| New Mexico | $52,010 |
| Utah | $51,720 |
| Kansas | $51,550 |
| Kentucky | $50,860 |
| Georgia | $50,530 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,480 |
| Virginia | $50,220 |
| Louisiana | $49,660 |
| Nebraska | $49,590 |
| Tennessee | $49,520 |
| South Carolina | $48,910 |
| Idaho | $48,530 |
| Texas | $48,150 |
| Florida | $48,080 |
| Alabama | $47,880 |
| Oklahoma | $47,740 |
| North Carolina | $47,630 |
| West Virginia | $47,320 |
| South Dakota | $46,500 |
| Arkansas | $46,320 |
| Mississippi | $46,160 |
| Guam | $36,380 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,190 |
Where Carpenters Earn the Most
Earnings for carpenters differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $72,498 | 24.4% | 1.49 |
| New England | $65,980 | 5.6% | 1.26 |
| Great Lakes | $64,496 | 13.4% | 0.97 |
| Middle Atlantic | $61,741 | 14.3% | 0.97 |
| Plains States | $57,798 | 8.1% | 1.25 |
| Rocky Mountains | $54,616 | 6.0% | 1.59 |
| Southwest | $50,288 | 8.5% | 0.78 |
| Southeast | $48,812 | 18.9% | 0.83 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Carpenters
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $94,090 | 3,650 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $83,120 | 340 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | WI | $82,760 | 830 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $82,280 | 830 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | WI | $81,370 | 400 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $81,210 | 2,220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $80,950 | 14,360 |
| Decatur, IL | IL | $80,770 | 200 |
Which Industries Hire Carpenters
Most carpenters are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 594,410 | $59,890 |
| Manufacturing | 30,940 | $48,070 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 19,040 | $52,770 |
| Retail Trade | 8,250 | $50,500 |
| Educational Services | 6,350 | $56,600 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 5,560 | $53,030 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4,550 | $53,390 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 3,920 | $58,630 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Carpenters Use
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for carpenters reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Standing
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Entry-level carpenters positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Primary-Short)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (Supplemental)
- Tile and Stone Setters (Supplemental)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (Primary-Short)
- Glaziers (Supplemental)
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring carpenters often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2031.00 (Carpenters).
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