State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Carpenter Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Carpenters earn a median of $60,580 per year ($29.12/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.5% through 2034, with about 74,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 47-2031Construction and ExtractionLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $60,580
- Projected growth
- +4.5%
- Openings a year
- 74,100
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Bridge Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Carpenter, Concrete Carpenter, Construction Carpenter, Form Carpenter.
How much do Carpenters make?
10th percentile$40,410
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$48,510
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$60,580
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$76,830
Upper quartile
90th percentile$99,910
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $60,580 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $29.12/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $65,630 |
| People employed | 670,090 |
Versus all US occupations
At $60,580, Carpenters earn 19% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $9,600 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $57,430, this is 5% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $99,910 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,410, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 43% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($85,280), but once local prices are taken into account Illinois leads at $79,033 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Carpenters the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 | $77,562 | 4,810 |
| Illinois | $79,000 | $79,033 | 19,570 |
| California | $75,920 | $68,569 | 100,750 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | $71,106 | 18,540 |
| Washington | $74,190 | $69,328 | 26,960 |
| Alaska | $73,860 | $72,158 | 2,560 |
| New York | $72,330 | $67,021 | 40,630 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 | $65,838 | 14,930 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 | $61,828 | 5,160 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 | $58,830 | 14,230 |
Is Carpenter a growing career?
Carpenters4.5%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.5% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Carpenters to change 4.5% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 43,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 74,100 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 959,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Population growth should result in more new-home construction, one of the largest segments employing carpenters, which will create some jobs for carpenters. Construction of factories and other nonresidential buildings also is projected to result in some new jobs over the decade.
However, the popularity of modular and prefabricated components for homes and businesses reduces the need for carpenters to build new structures. Roofs, insulation, walls, and other components, as well as entire buildings, may be manufactured in a separate facility and then assembled onsite.
How to become a Carpenter
No state licenses carpenters. You can be hired as a carpenter with a high school diploma and no credential at all, and BLS lists only a driver's licence under licences and certifications, alongside the statement that all carpenters must pass the OSHA 10-hour safety course. Licensing becomes real at a different moment: when you stop working for someone else. Twenty-seven percent of carpenters are self-employed, and contracting for yourself is what triggers a state contractor licence with its own experience requirement and exams.
The credential path, step by step
- Get the high school diploma and, if you can, the shop classes
BLS records a high school diploma or equivalent as typically required to enter the occupation, with mathematics and mechanical drawing useful. Some vocational-technical schools offer associate degrees in carpentry that vary in length and cover both basics and specialties.
- Complete the OSHA 10-hour construction course
BLS states flatly that all carpenters must pass the OSHA 10-hour safety course. That is an employer and jobsite expectation delivered through OSHA's Outreach Training Program rather than a licence, and in some jurisdictions it is only the floor: New York City, for example, requires a 40-hour Site Safety Training card instead.
- Learn on the job or enter a registered apprenticeshipTypically 3 to 4 years for an apprenticeship
BLS describes both routes. On the job you start with measuring and cutting and progress to reading blueprints and building structures. In an apprenticeship, sponsored by unions or contractor associations, each year combines a predetermined number of hours of technical training with paid on-the-job training. Under federal rules a registered apprenticeship measured by time requires at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, and a minimum of 144 hours of related technical instruction for each year is recommended rather than required, which is why programme lengths differ between sponsors and regions.
- Finish and collect the Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship
The Office of Apprenticeship or the State Apprenticeship Agency grants apprentices who complete a registered programme a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship. It is portable between employers and states, which an in-house training record is not.
- Get a contractor licence only when you start contracting for yourself
This is the step people misplace. In California, a journey-level worker without a contractor licence may not contract for jobs that require a building permit, use employee labor, or exceed $1,000 in labor and materials. Qualifying for the licence takes at least four years of experience at journey level or as a foreman, supervising employee, contractor or owner-builder, of which at least one year must be practical experience, with up to three years creditable from technical training, apprenticeship training or education. Two exams follow: law and business, and the trade exam for the classification. Carpentry maps to classification C-5, Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor, or to the B General Building classification.
- How long the training takes
There is no required programme. On-the-job entry has no fixed length. A registered apprenticeship typically runs 3 to 4 years and requires at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning under the federal time-based standard. Associate degrees in carpentry vary in length.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
Working as a carpenter for an employer is not licensed anywhere in the United States. Contracting as a carpenter is licensed in many states, and the thresholds differ. California requires a licence once a job requires a building permit, uses employee labor, or exceeds $1,000 in labor and materials, and issues carpentry work under the C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry classification or the broader B General Building classification. Other states set different dollar thresholds, license at city or county level, or do not license residential contractors at all. The practical rule is that the licence attaches to who signs the contract, not to who swings the hammer.
Who governs the credential
- Apprenticeship.gov (US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship) — Registers apprenticeship programmes and, through the Office of Apprenticeship or a State Apprenticeship Agency, issues the nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship.
- California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Licenses contractors in California and publishes the line a journey-level carpenter may not cross without a licence: no permitted work, no employee labor, and no job over $1,000 in labor and materials.
- NCCER — A not-for-profit education foundation created by the construction industry that publishes standardized craft curricula and issues portable credentials through its Registry System. Completing NCCER Core is required before any Level 1 craft credential, including carpentry.
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) — Sponsors the union apprenticeship route through its network of regional training centres. Applications are made to the local training centre, not to the international union.
Credential detail for carpenters is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Carpenters, How to Become One (and the 27 percent self-employed figure under Work Environment) · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 29 CFR 29.5 — Standards of apprenticeship: the 2,000 hour time-based minimum for on-the-job learning and the recommended 144 hours of related instruction per year · checked August 23, 2026
- Apprenticeship.gov — What will I receive after I complete a Registered Apprenticeship Program? · checked August 23, 2026
- California Contractors State License Board — Frequently Asked Questions About Journey-level Experience · checked August 23, 2026
- California Contractors State License Board — Step 3: Qualifying Experience for the Examination (four years, one year practical, up to three years of credit) · checked August 23, 2026
- California Contractors State License Board — Licensing Classification C-5, Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor · checked August 23, 2026
- NCCER — Credentials and Certifications · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Carpenters typically need a high school diploma and learn on the job or through apprenticeships.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Apprenticeship |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as carpenters.
- High School Diploma52.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate21.5%
- Less than a High School Diploma17.7%
- Some College Courses8.4%
What does a Carpenter do?
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.
Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
Day-to-day tasks
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Anchor and brace forms and other structures in place, using nails, bolts, anchor rods, steel cables, planks, wedges, and timbers.
- Bore boltholes in timber, masonry or concrete walls, using power drill.
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
- Remove damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools.
- Install rough door and window frames, subflooring, fixtures, or temporary supports in structures undergoing construction or repair.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most carpenters work full time, which may include evenings and weekends to meet clients’ deadlines. Extreme temperatures or inclement weather may impact building construction timelines, which in turn may affect carpenters’ work hours.
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
- Regular bending or twisting
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where carpenters work
| Self-employed workers | 27% |
|---|---|
| Residential building construction | 23% |
| Nonresidential building construction | 12% |
| Building finishing contractors | 12% |
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 10% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.4/5
- Critical Thinking3.4/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
- Writing2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Coordination3.3/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Operations Monitoring2.9/5
- Operation and Control2.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Carpenter?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary6.8
Investigative1.9
Artistic2.2
Social1.9
Enterprising1.8
Conventionalprimary3.5
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Carpenter: frequently asked questions
How much do Carpenters make?
Carpenters earn a median of $60,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 19% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.12/hr. The middle half earn between $48,510 and $76,830. The top 10% earn $99,910 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Carpenter?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Carpenters. BLS also lists apprenticeship as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.4% hold high school diploma.
Is Carpenter a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.5% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 74,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Carpenter do?
Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials. A core O*NET task: follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Carpenters the most?
The highest state medians for Carpenters are Hawaii ($85,280), Illinois ($79,000), California ($75,920) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Illinois moves to the top at $79,033.
What personality type suits a Carpenter?
O*NET scores Carpenters highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Carpenter?
There is no required programme. On-the-job entry has no fixed length. A registered apprenticeship typically runs 3 to 4 years and requires at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning under the federal time-based standard. Associate degrees in carpentry vary in length.
Do you need a license to work as a Carpenter?
Not a state license. Working as a carpenter for an employer is not licensed anywhere in the United States. Contracting as a carpenter is licensed in many states, and the thresholds differ. California requires a licence once a job requires a building permit, uses employee labor, or exceeds $1,000 in labor and materials, and issues carpentry work under the C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry classification or the broader B General Building classification. Other states set different dollar thresholds, license at city or county level, or do not license residential contractors at all. The practical rule is that the licence attaches to who signs the contract, not to who swings the hammer.