Trade hub
Carpenter
Frame, finish and build the structures and interiors of residential and commercial buildings.
- Median pay
- $56,350/yr
- Entry path
- 3–4 years
- Job outlook
- +4%
What carpenters do
Carpentry spans rough framing, formwork, interior finish, cabinetry and specialty millwork. It is the broadest of the construction trades and the most common entry point for people who want to eventually run their own remodeling business. Most states do not license carpenters directly, but they do license the general contractor who signs the permit.
- Median annual pay
- $56,350
- $27.09 per hour
- Typical range
- $37,040–$92,700
- 10th to 90th percentile
- Projected growth
- +4%
- 2023–2033 projections
- Annual openings
- 79,500
- Growth plus replacement
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2023 national wage estimates. Local pay varies substantially with union scale, prevailing wage projects and regional demand. Estimate pay for your area.
The work itself
A typical day
- Lay out walls, floors and roofs from plans
- Cut and assemble framing to load and code requirements
- Install doors, trim, casework and hardware
- Build stairs and calculate rise and run
- Estimate material and generate cut lists
Where you work
- Residential new construction and remodels
- Commercial interior build-outs
- Shops and millwork facilities
- Outdoors in all weather during framing
Physical demands
Constant lifting, climbing and repetitive motion. Framing is weather-exposed and hard on the body; finish work is lighter but demands precision and patience.
The honest tradeoffs
What works in your favor
- Widest range of work of any construction trade
- Fastest route into self-employed remodeling
- Visible, tangible results at the end of each day
- Low licensing barrier to start working
What to go in knowing
- More cyclical than the licensed mechanical trades
- Lower ceiling than electrical or plumbing without a contractor license
- Weather exposure and seasonal slowdowns
- Injury rate is among the highest in construction
Getting in
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Training route
- 3–4 year apprenticeship, or on-the-job progression from laborer
- Apprenticeship length
- 3–4 years
- Licensing
- Generally unlicensed as a trade. A general contractor license is required in most states to contract work directly.
Where the trade splits
Pay and working conditions diverge sharply by specialization. These are the paths most carpenters end up choosing between.
- Rough framing
- Concrete formwork
- Finish and trim carpentry
- Cabinetmaking and millwork
- Stair building
- Commercial interior systems
- Timber framing
- Restoration carpentry
Credentials that matter
- NCCER Carpentry CertificationNCCER
- OSHA 30-Hour ConstructionOSHA-authorized trainer
- EPA Lead-Safe Renovator (RRP)EPA-accredited trainer
- General Contractor LicenseState contractor licensing board
Carpenter field tools
The calculators this trade uses on the job. Everything runs in the browser.
- CalculatorBoard FeetConvert lumber dimensions to board feet and price a material order.
- CalculatorConcreteCalculate cubic yards for slabs, footings, columns and stairs, with waste allowance.
- CalculatorFraming MaterialCount studs, plates, headers and sheathing for a wall from length, height and spacing.
- CalculatorDrywallCount sheets, screws, joint compound and tape for a room, minus openings.
- CalculatorPaintCalculate gallons of paint and primer for walls, ceilings and trim by coat.
- CalculatorStairsCalculate rise, run, stringer length and headroom to code from total rise.
- CalculatorDeck MaterialEstimate joists, beams, decking, fasteners and footings for a deck frame.
- CalculatorTile / FlooringCalculate tile, flooring, underlayment, thinset and grout for a room with waste.
- CalculatorJob PricingBuild a defensible price from labor, materials, overhead and your target profit margin.
- CalculatorShop RateDetermine the hourly rate you must charge to cover overhead and hit your income target.
- CalculatorJob ProfitabilityCompare quoted price against actual hours and material to see what a job really earned.
- CalculatorBreak-EvenFind the revenue and billable hours required to cover fixed and variable costs.
- CalculatorMarkup / MarginConvert between markup and gross margin so you stop pricing below your intended profit.
- PlannerStarter Tool KitBuild a first-year tool list for your trade and see what it costs at three quality tiers.
- ComparisonRent vs. BuyCompare renting against buying a tool across the number of times you will actually use it.
For homeowners: when you need a carpenter
- Sagging floors, sticking doors or structural movement
- Rot in framing, decks, trim or sills
- Removing a wall that may be load-bearing
- Built-ins, custom cabinetry and stair work
What it should cost
Decide what to do
- CalculatorBoard FeetConvert lumber dimensions to board feet and price a material order.
- CalculatorConcreteCalculate cubic yards for slabs, footings, columns and stairs, with waste allowance.
- CalculatorFraming MaterialCount studs, plates, headers and sheathing for a wall from length, height and spacing.
- CalculatorDrywallCount sheets, screws, joint compound and tape for a room, minus openings.
- CalculatorPaintCalculate gallons of paint and primer for walls, ceilings and trim by coat.
- CalculatorStairsCalculate rise, run, stringer length and headroom to code from total rise.
- CalculatorDeck MaterialEstimate joists, beams, decking, fasteners and footings for a deck frame.
- CalculatorTile / FlooringCalculate tile, flooring, underlayment, thinset and grout for a room with waste.
- EstimatorRepair CostEstimate what a common home repair should cost in your area before you call anyone.
- ComparisonDIY vs. ProWeigh cost, time, tools, permits, risk and consequences before you take on a job yourself.
- DiagnosticQuote AnalyzerBreak down a contractor's quote and see whether the price and the terms are reasonable.
- EstimatorRenovation CostEstimate a kitchen, bath, basement or addition project by scope, finish level and region.
- ComparisonRent vs. BuyCompare renting against buying a tool across the number of times you will actually use it.
- ChecklistHiring ChecklistWork through license, insurance, contract and payment checks before you sign anything.
Find carpenters near you
Consent-based listings ranked by distance, relevance and verification date — never by payment.
- Carpenters in New York
- Carpenters in Los Angeles
- Carpenters in Chicago
- Carpenters in Houston
- Carpenters in Phoenix
- Carpenters in Philadelphia
- Carpenters in San Antonio
- Carpenters in San Diego
Related trades
Trades that share skills, tools or career adjacency.
- RooferInstall and repair the roof systems that keep water out of residential and commercial buildings.
- ElectricianInstall and maintain the power, lighting and control systems in homes, businesses and industrial plants.
- PlumberInstall and repair the water supply, drainage, gas and fixture systems that keep buildings habitable.