Carpenter careers
Carpenters construct, install, and repair building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
What does a carpenter do?
Carpenters measure, cut, assemble, and repair building frameworks, forms, and finished structures using plans and tools.
Jobs can be in new construction, renovation, or maintenance, indoors and outdoors. Framing, formwork, and finish carpentry require different practice.
Carpenter career snapshot
- U.S. median annual pay
- $60,580 (May 2025)
- Projected U.S. employment change
- +4% (2025–35)
- Typical training path
- Apprenticeship or on-the-job
These national figures are context, not a guarantee of local pay or job availability. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
How to get started
Choose a path that matches the work you want to do and includes layout, measurement, tools, and supervised job-site experience.
Compare any program or apprenticeship with the BLS occupational profile and with current local employer requirements. Training routes can differ by location and employer.
Questions to ask before choosing training
- Which type of carpentry does the training emphasize?
- Will you practice reading plans and building to measurements?
Find a real next step
Search nearby schools and apprenticeship sponsors, or browse current Carpenter jobs. The map identifies institutions and registered sponsors; it does not confirm that a school teaches carpenter or that a sponsor has an open position. Review each listing directly.