What Does it Take to Be a Rough Carpenter?

Occupation Description Build rough wooden structures, such as concrete forms, scaffolds, tunnel, bridge, or sewer supports, billboard signs, and temporary frame shelters, according to sketches, blueprints, or oral instructions.

List of Rough Carpenter Job Duties

• Dig or direct digging of post holes and set poles to support structures.
• Cut or saw boards, timbers, or plywood to required size, using handsaw, power saw, or woodworking machine.
• Mark cutting lines on materials, using pencil and scriber.
• Maintain job records and schedule work crew.
• Assemble and fasten material together to construct wood or metal framework of structure, using bolts, nails, or screws.
• Build sleds from logs and timbers for use in hauling camp buildings and machinery through wooded areas.

What Every Rough Carpenter Should Know

Rough Carpenters state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Other Rough Carpenter Job Titles

• Brattice Builder
• Lead Carpenter
• Stopping Builder
• Piledriver Carpenter
• Wharf Builder

Are There Job Opportunities for Rough Carpenters?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,025,600 jobs in the United States for Carpenters.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 83,800 new jobs for Rough Carpenters by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 104,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Carpenters are California, Florida, and Texas.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Mexico, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Rough Carpenters Make A Lot Of Money?

The average yearly salary of a Rough Carpenter ranges between $28,860 and $82,750. The median salary is $46,590.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Hawaii	$73,070
Illinois	$66,280
Alaska	$66,240
New Jersey	$63,230
New York	$62,880
Massachusetts	$60,970
Washington	$60,800
California	$59,860
Connecticut	$57,910
Missouri	$55,220
District of Columbia	$53,470
Pennsylvania	$53,450
Nevada	$53,140
Minnesota	$52,610
Rhode Island	$51,090
Wisconsin	$50,760
Delaware	$49,960
Maryland	$48,870
Wyoming	$48,750
Oregon	$48,680
Indiana	$47,970
Ohio	$47,940
Michigan	$47,740
Colorado	$47,640
Kentucky	$47,320
New Hampshire	$47,150
Louisiana	$45,910
Georgia	$45,850
Vermont	$44,590
South Carolina	$44,490
Virginia	$43,750
West Virginia	$43,570
Arizona	$43,460
Kansas	$43,300
Oklahoma	$42,990
North Dakota	$42,850
Iowa	$42,660
Montana	$42,480
Maine	$42,230
Utah	$42,160
Florida	$40,660
Texas	$40,370
Alabama	$40,310
Tennessee	$39,620
New Mexico	$39,430
Nebraska	$39,080
Idaho	$38,760
Mississippi	$37,740
North Carolina	$37,180
Arkansas	$36,390
South Dakota	$36,340

What Tools & Technology do Rough Carpenters Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Rough Carpenters:

• Drawing and drafting software
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Windows

How to Become a Rough Carpenter

What education or degrees do I need to become a Rough Carpenter?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Rough Carpenters?

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those who work as Rough Carpenters sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Helpers–Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons