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.
National median · BLS
$60,580
▲ +2.14%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$65,630
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
670,090
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Carpenters
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$40,410
25th
$48,510
Median (50th)
$60,580
75th
$76,830
90th — top pay
$99,910
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Carpenters
BLS projects employment of carpenters to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 62,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
889,700 → 924,700
+35,000 jobs
Projected change
+3.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
62,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Apprenticeship
Self-employed
25.1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Carpenters salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Carpenters
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.4
Critical Thinking3.4
Monitoring3.4
Coordination3.3
Quality Control Analysis3.1
Reading Comprehension3.1
Speaking3.1
Active Learning3.0
Complex Problem Solving3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Top knowledge areas
Building and Construction4.7
Administration and Management3.9
Mathematics3.9
Design3.9
Engineering and Technology3.6
Public Safety and Security3.5
Mechanical3.3
Education and Training3.2
Software and technology used
Intuit QuickBooksMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordBosch Punch ListCraftsman CD EstimatorDrawing and drafting softwareEstimating softwareJob costing softwareQuickenRenaissance MasterCarpenterTurtle Creek Software GoldensealVirtualBossWeb browser softwareWilhelm Publishing Threshold
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What carpenters do
Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
Select and order lumber or other required materials.
Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Carpenters, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $60,580.
