Carpenter
You can see your work from the street.
Median Salary
$53,230
Apprenticeship
3–4 years
Union Presence
Moderate
Physical Demand
High
Job Demand
Moderate
Carpenters build, install, and repair structures made of wood and other materials — from framing houses to installing finish trim to building custom cabinetry. It's one of the most versatile trades with strong paths to independent contracting.
What Carpenters Earn
National data — Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
25th Percentile
$38,250
Entry level
Median
$53,230
Mid-career
75th Percentile
$72,130
Experienced
90th Percentile
$91,080
Top earners
Salary by State
Teal bars = above national median · Blue bars = below national median · Source: BLS OEWS
Career Path
From day one to running your own operation
Carpenter Helper / Laborer
$30,000–$42,000Years 0–2
Start as a helper on a framing or finish crew. Learn to read blueprints, use hand and power tools, and understand construction sequences. Many carpenters learn this way without a formal apprenticeship.
Apprentice / Journeyperson Carpenter
$42,000–$65,000Years 2–6
Through a UBC union apprenticeship or accumulated experience, become a journeyperson. Specialize in rough framing, finish work, formwork, or millwork.
Lead Carpenter / Foreman
$60,000–$82,000Years 6–10
Supervise a crew on commercial or residential projects. Foremen coordinate with GCs and subcontractors and are responsible for quality and schedule.
Carpentry Contractor
$75,000–$150,000+Years 8+
With experience and a contractor's license, run your own carpentry or general contracting business. Custom home builders and finish carpenters who go independent often earn $100,000+.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓Most versatile trade — framing, finish, cabinets, formwork, and more
- ✓Lower barrier to entry than licensed trades — no exam required in most states
- ✓Strong path to general contracting and running your own business
- ✓Tangible satisfaction — you see exactly what you built
- ✓Good union presence through the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC)
Challenges
- ✕Median wages are lower than licensed trades like electrician or plumber
- ✕Outdoor rough framing work is physically demanding and weather-dependent
- ✕New construction is more sensitive to housing market downturns
- ✕Back and joint injuries are more common than in some other trades
How to Get Started
Step-by-step path into the carpenter trade
- 1
Join a UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters) apprenticeship (carpenters.org) — 3–4 years, paid from day one.
Browse carpentry apprenticeships → - 2
Prefer to start now? Find a framing or finish carpentry contractor who hires helpers — most will take motivated people with no experience.
Find hiring contractors → - 3
Community college carpentry programs give you a solid foundation and can count toward apprenticeship credit.
Find carpentry programs → - 4
Learn to read blueprints and construction plans — it's the single skill that separates average carpenters from ones who get promoted.
- 5
Get your OSHA 10 card — required on most commercial job sites and easy to get online in a day.
Get the Free Carpenter Salary Guide
Median wages for carpenters across all 50 states, pulled directly from BLS data. Free, no strings.