Find accredited Carpentry training programs near you
$49,520
Avg. Salary
4%
Job Growth
6-24 months
Program Length
380
Schools Listed
Carpenters build, install, and repair structures and fixtures from wood, metal, and composite materials. The work spans framing entire houses to fine finish carpentry to commercial concrete formwork. It is one of the most versatile trades β many carpenters move between residential, commercial, and specialty work over a career.
Carpentry suits people who like building things and seeing physical results from their work. Comfort with measurement, geometry, and power tools is essential. The work is physical and weather-exposed.
Framers work in crews assembling walls, floors, and roofs on new builds. Finish carpenters install trim, doors, cabinets, and millwork. Commercial carpenters install metal studs, drop ceilings, and concrete formwork. Pace and earnings vary widely by sub-specialty.
Earning certifications like OSHA 10/30 and Lead-Safe Certification can increase your employability and qualify you for higher-paying positions. Many Carpentry training programs include certification prep as part of the curriculum.
Carpentry is not one job β it's a family of related roles. Choosing a specialization early can shape your training, certifications, and earning ceiling.
Walls, floors, roofs. Highest-volume work in residential.
Doors, baseboards, cabinets. Detail-oriented, higher pay.
Custom shop work. Fine craftsmanship.
Commercial and infrastructure. Strong union niche.
Historic buildings. Specialized skills, premium pay.
Local hiring conditions matter more than national averages. These states currently have the strongest combination of employer demand, training infrastructure, and pay.
High-volume residential construction statewide
Year-round building activity and storm rebuild work
Strong union pay and large commercial market
Charlotte and Raleigh growth
Phoenix metro housing boom
$49,520
National median salary
4%
10-year job growth
6-24 months
Typical training length
Realistic pay range
$36,000β$75,000
Entry to experienced
Training cost range
$3,500β$16,000
Public to private programs
2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville, SC 29829
$6,000
12 months
View Details β1247 Jimmie Kerr Road, Graham, NC 27253
$5,056
2 years
View Details β843 4th Street, Kotzebue, AK 99752
$7,659
9 months
View Details β809 Second Ave, Seward, AK 99664
$3,287
9 months
View Details β1704 South Slappey Blvd, Albany, GA 31701
$1,284
8 weeks
View Details β1601 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, MN 56308
$6,115
1 year
View Details βShowing 6 of 380 schools. Select a state in the sidebar to view all schools in your area.
Trade school programs run 6-18 months. Union apprenticeships are 4 years and pay you to learn. Many carpenters start as helpers or laborers and learn on the job.
BLS median is $49,520. Apprentices start around $36,000. Journeyman carpenters earn $50,000-$70,000. Skilled finish carpenters and union members in major metros can earn $80,000-$95,000.
Most states do not license individual carpenters, but contractors typically need a state contractor license to take work above a certain dollar threshold.