How to become a carpenter

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What carpenters do

• Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
• Maintain job records and schedule work crew.
• Bore boltholes in timber, masonry or concrete walls, using power drill.
• Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
• Perform minor plumbing, welding, or concrete mixing work.
• Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Mathematics
• Active Learning
• Writing

Is carpenter a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 19% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Hawaii $85,280
• Illinois $79,000
• California $75,920
• Massachusetts $75,200
• Washington $74,190

Carpenters salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.