Carpenter

What it pays in the U.S.

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.

Wage figures are 2025 survey data for United States, shown nationally because no state figure was reported. They describe what people in this job earn now, not what any one person will be offered.

What the work actually is

• Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
• Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
• Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
• Select and order lumber or other required materials.
• Install rough door and window frames, subflooring, fixtures, or temporary supports in structures undergoing construction or repair.
• Dig or direct digging of post holes and set poles to support structures.

Read the full Occupational Outlook Handbook entry from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Licensing, by state

Licensing is set by each state, so there is no national answer. Choose a state above to see which licenses it requires for this career, or look one up with the CareerOneStop License Finder.

Certifications employers recognize

These are national certifications, issued by industry bodies rather than a state. Most are optional, but they are how you prove skill to an employer.

• Industrial Carpenter

  National Center for Construction Education and Research · Core

• Door + Hardware Industry Associate - Level I

  Door and Hardware Institute · Core

• LEED Green Associate

  Green Business Certification Inc. · Core

• Door + Hardware Consultant

  Door and Hardware Institute · Advanced

• Hazard Awareness For Suspended Scaffold And Operator Safety Training

  Scaffold & Access Industry Association · Core

• FenestrationMaster

  Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance · Advanced

• Certified Lead Carpenter

  National Association of the Remodeling Industry · Core

• Certified Craftsman

  National Wood Flooring Association · Core

• Certified Master Craftsman

  National Wood Flooring Association · Advanced

• Door + Hardware Industry Associate

  Door and Hardware Institute · Advanced

• Architectural Hardware Consultants

  Door and Hardware Institute · Advanced

• Rain Screen Systems

  International Masonry Institute · Advanced

Apprenticeships, by state

Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train. Each state runs its own registration office, which is where to start when you want to find an open program.

Choose a state above to see the offices that register apprenticeships there.

Search open programs directly at apprenticeship.gov.