Carpenter Career Guide,
Salary, Licence & Jobs 2026

Carpenters have their own BLS occupation (SOC 47-2031) with an OEWS May 2025 median of $60,580 a year, or $29.12 an hour, ranging from $40,410 at the 10th percentile to $99,910 at the 90th. Union scale in high-cost metros, commercial and finish specialties, overtime and self-employment push pay toward and past the upper end, while non-union residential work sits nearer the entry band.

Most carpenters learn through a registered apprenticeship — typically 3 to 4 years of paid on-the-job training plus about 144 hours a year of classroom instruction — run by a union local such as the United Brotherhood of Carpenters or by a contractor/association program. A high-school diploma or GED is the usual entry requirement, and OSHA 10 or 30-hour construction safety training is standard. No degree is needed.

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Carpenters build and repair the structural and finished parts of buildings: framing walls, floors and roofs, setting and stripping concrete forms, and installing doors, trim, stairs and cabinetry. They read blueprints, lay out the work, cut and fasten materials to dimension and code, and are the largest and most versatile of the building trades on most jobsites.

A registered carpentry apprenticeship typically runs 3 to 4 years, combining paid on-the-job training under journeymen with roughly 144 hours a year of related classroom instruction in blueprint reading, math, safety and trade skills. Apprentices start at a percentage of journeyman scale and step up as they complete hours, reaching full journeyman pay on completion.

There is no universal state license for the carpentry trade itself — you become a journeyman by completing an apprenticeship, not by passing a licensing exam. A license does become relevant if you go into business for yourself: many states and localities require a general or specialty contractor license to pull permits and run a carpentry company. OSHA 10 or 30-hour safety training is expected on most sites.

It is a solid debt-free trade. The apprenticeship pays from the first day, the $60,580 median is competitive with many degree jobs, and the ceiling reaches the $99,910 top decile through lead, foreman, superintendent and contractor roles. BLS projects 4.5% growth over 2024–2034 with about 74,100 openings a year, most from retirements and turnover, so demand is steady. The trade is physically demanding and outdoor and can be seasonal.