Help carpenters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment. Construction laborers who do not primarily assist carpenters are classified under “Construction Laborers” (47-2061). Apprentice workers are classified with the appropriate skilled construction trade occupation (47-2011 through 47-2231).
National median · BLS
$43,780
▲ +5.24%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$44,050
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
21,680
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Helpers--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
$31,660
25th
$36,730
Median (50th)
$43,780
75th
$49,400
90th — top pay
$57,670
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 Helpers--Carpenters
BLS projects employment of helpers--carpenters to decline 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 2,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
21,900 → 21,500
-400 jobs
Projected change
-1.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.7% 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.
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 helpers--carpenters do
Erect scaffolding, shoring, or braces.
Clean work areas, machines, or equipment, to maintain a clean and safe job site.
Align, straighten, plumb, or square forms for installation.
Select tools, equipment, or materials from storage and transport items to work site.
Fasten timbers or lumber with glue, screws, pegs, or nails and install hardware.
Position and hold timbers, lumber, or paneling in place for fastening or cutting.
Cut timbers, lumber, or paneling to specified dimensions.
Hold plumb bobs, sighting rods, or other equipment to aid in establishing reference points and lines.
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 Helpers--Carpenters, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $43,780.
