Measure and mark cut lines
Read the drawings, measure the area, then mark cut lines in chalk or pencil so parts land correctly.
Career profile
Carpenter
Carpenters build and repair the wooden framing, door units and trim that shape buildings.
The work turns a paper plan into parts that fit: first a pencil line, then a sawn piece, then an opening someone can walk through.
A day in the life
Cut boards and fasten a frame
Cut the boards to length with a power saw, then nail or screw them into a frame.
Level the frame and recheck
Set a level against the frame, and if it tilts, shift it and test it once more.
Replace damaged wood in a doorframe
Inspect a fixture or worn doorframe, remove the damaged part, and fit a new piece in its place.
Quick facts
Learn on the job
United States
$60,580/year
United States · May 2025
3.9% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Learn on the jobA high school diploma or equivalent is typical, followed by employer training or apprenticeship.
Pay
$60,580/yearNational median employee wage; equivalent to $29.12 an hour.
Outlook
3.9% projected growthAbout 62,800 openings a year are projected nationally, including replacement openings.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like imagining how flat drawings become solid objects.
- You are willing to recheck a measurement before cutting.
- You enjoy coordinating hands-on work with other people.
Things to weigh
- Lifting and kneeling can wear you out; falls and contact with tools are real injury risks.
- Weather can interrupt outdoor work. Deadlines may mean evenings or weekends.
Where AI may help
Drawing and estimating software can help you plan dimensions and material costs.
What people still lead
You still fit pieces to the actual building and check their alignment.
What we can’t predict yet
Factory-made building sections can reduce onsite construction. How much your work shifts toward assembling them depends on the projects you take.
Pay in context
Earnings
Read these as employee wages before taxes; benefits, overtime premiums, and self-employed earnings are excluded.
The middle and the spread
The median was $60,580 a year, or $29.12 an hour. The lowest tenth earned under $40,410; the highest tenth earned over $99,910. These are wage bands, not career stages.
Pay by workplace type
Annual medians were $63,780 in nonresidential building construction, $60,880 with building finishing contractors, and $60,600 in residential building construction.
While you learn
Apprentices start below fully trained carpenters and receive pay increases as they gain experience.
Openings include replacements
Employment is projected to grow 3.9% during 2025–35, with 62,800 openings annually on average. Openings include replacing workers, so they exceed the number of newly added jobs.
Getting started
Enter an apprenticeship
Paid
- What the route involves
- Combine paid jobsite training with classes in plans, construction math, and safety.
- What it can lead to
- Build the skills needed for increasingly complex carpentry work.
- What to check
- Admission requirements and training commitments vary by sponsor and region.
Learn through an employer
- What the route involves
- Begin with measuring and cutting under an experienced carpenter; some workers start as construction helpers.
- What it can lead to
- Progress toward reading plans and building structures as your skills develop.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typical. Both routes involve learning from experienced workers.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get dependable with the basics
Make accurate marks and cuts, then check the finished pieces against their intended dimensions.
Carry an installation through
Connect the plan to the layout, assembly, and final alignment checks.
Lead or specialize
Work toward lead carpenter or supervisor responsibilities.
- Develop a specialty through further training in areas such as scaffolding or floor covering.
Where you can work
Home interiors
Cabinets and trim put you close to the finished surfaces. Work can involve kneeling and fitting pieces into cramped spaces.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
Large buildings and bridges
Concrete forms and scaffolding bring larger assemblies and work at height. Some installations involve cranes and rigging equipment.
- Outdoors
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Measure an accessible doorway and sketch its trim with dimensions. Remeasure without looking at your first numbers, then compare. Notice whether checking fit and resolving small differences holds your attention.
Stay safe: Work from floor level; leave the trim in place.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 47-2031.00 — Carpenters. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Carpenters. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Carpenters International Training Fund Training Programs. Accessed 2026-10-03.