Carpenter salary
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What a carpenter does
Carpenters build and install structures and fittings from wood and other materials, across residential, commercial and finish work.
Day-to-day duties
- Frame walls, floors and roofs
- Install doors, windows and trim
- Read and work from plans
- Measure, cut and shape materials
- Work to building codes
Skills employers look for
- Precise measurement and cutting
- Plan reading
- Power tool proficiency
- Physical stamina outdoors
Requirements Entry level
- Apprenticeship or on-the-job training
- No universal licence, though contractors need one
- Own hand tools usually expected
- OSHA safety training common
How to get started
- 1 Start as a helper or labourer
- 2 Move into an apprenticeship
- 3 Specialise in framing, finish or cabinetry
- 4 Progress to lead, foreman or contracting
Job outlook: Tracks construction activity, so demand is more cyclical than the licensed trades — but finish and remodelling work is steadier than new build.
Common questions about carpenters
What does a carpenter do?
Carpenters build and install structures and fittings from wood and other materials, across residential, commercial and finish work. Day to day, that means frame walls, floors and roofs, install doors, windows and trim, read and work from plans and measure, cut and shape materials.
How do you become a carpenter?
The usual route is: (1) start as a helper or labourer, (2) move into an apprenticeship, (3) specialise in framing, finish or cabinetry, (4) progress to lead, foreman or contracting. Employers typically look for apprenticeship or on-the-job training, no universal licence, though contractors need one and own hand tools usually expected.
Do you need a certification to work as a carpenter?
Usually not. Most employers hire carpenters without a specific licence, though no universal licence, though contractors need one will widen your options and often your pay.
Are carpenters in demand?
Tracks construction activity, so demand is more cyclical than the licensed trades — but finish and remodelling work is steadier than new build.
Where are carpenters most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
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Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.