Construction Trades Workers

How to become a Carpenter

Official title: Carpenters

Also called: Bridge Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Carpentry Construction Specialist, Concrete Carpenter, Construction Carpenter, Finish Carpenter, Form Carpenter, Maintenance Carpenter, Rough Carpenter, Scaffold Builder

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.

Main tasks

Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
Select and order lumber or other required materials.
Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.

How to become one

Carpenters typically learn on the job and through apprenticeships.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Carpenter. BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Apprenticeship: Carpenter, Maintenance. BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Apprenticeship: Carpenter, Ship. BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $60,580 a year The middle half earn $48,510 to $76,830.
About 889,700 people work in this job now, and about 924,700 are projected by 2035. (+3.9%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Carpenter?

Carpenters typically learn on the job and through apprenticeships.

How much does a Carpenter earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $60,580 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,510 to $76,830.

Is a Carpenter a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 889,700 to about 924,700 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Carpenter?

Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Carpenter.

Will AI change the work of a Carpenter?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.