Carpenter | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Carpenter via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Penn Foster High School, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering carpentry courses to train individuals to become top-notch carpenters, construction managers, construction workers, construction engineers, construction professionals, construction superintendents, construction area managers, construction foremen, lead carpenters, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 743,760 people employed as carpenters alone in America, and their average annual salary is $43,640. Construction managers make on average $93,290 per year and there are about 204,760 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Penn Foster High School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Carpenter
  • Building supply outlet
  • Maintenance company
  • National parks maintenance
  • Renovation center
  • Construction company
  • Residential home builder
  • Welding center
  • Manufacturing plant
  • Tool supplier
  • General contractor
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Carpenter
  • Opportunity to be part of new projects
  • Take pride in your work
  • Make your own schedule
  • Get to use your creativity
  • Grow construction knowledge and skills
  • Invent new ways of building things
  • Interesting and changing work environment
  • Skills are applicable in many areas
  • Flexible hours
  • Good work-life balance
Potential Drawbacks
  • Facing customers head on
  • Often difficult to find jobs
  • Often must provide own tools
  • Potentially dangerous work environments
  • Regularly work with dangerous tools
  • Over-time sometimes necessary
  • Often dependent on self-employment for income
  • Often must provide own vehicle
  • Clean up messes
  • Must be prepared in advance
Related Professions to Consider
  • Electrician
  • Equipment Operator
  • Framer
  • Plumber
  • Roofer
  • Window Installer
  • Door Installer
  • Master Carpenter
  • Drywaller
  • Journeyman
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Carpenter
  • Please tell us something about your educational qualifications and skills?
  • Tell us something about the skills that are required to become a good carpenter?
  • What is your professional experience?
  • Why have you chosen to pursue a career in this field?
  • What are your weak and strong points?
  • Tell us about this project you've listed on your resume?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
  • Provide a work-related example of a time where you had to work deadlines?
  • What is the most complex piece of furniture/item that you have fabricated in your career?
  • Tell us about a time when a customer brought a furniture problem to you What did you do to understand their concerns and resolve their situation?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Construction worker
  • Painter
  • Joiner
  • Electrician
  • Welder
  • Structural engineer
  • Fabricator
  • Machinist
  • Plumber
  • Glazer
Carpenter Training books Carpenter (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Basic Industrial Math
  • Practical Measurements
  • Working Safely with Chemicals
  • Hand and Power Tools
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Woodworking Hand Tools
  • Reading Prints and Schematics
  • Electrical Drawings and Circuits
  • Wood Products
  • Plastics, Elastomers, and Composite Materials

Carpenter Salary Information

Category: Construction managers

Total # Employed in the US 204,760
Average Hourly Wage: $44.85/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$23.71 $30.14 $39.58 $53.45 $72.9
Average Yearly Salary $93,290
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$49,320 $62,700 $82,330 $111,170 $151,630
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
7.8% 30.8% 24.6% 8.1% 23.2% 4.8% 0.8%
Construction managers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma $64.47/hr $134,090
North Dakota $57.58/hr $119,760
Virginia $55.75/hr $115,960
Colorado $53.38/hr $111,030
Alaska $52.67/hr $109,540
Missouri $50.8/hr $105,670
Hawaii $49.49/hr $102,930
Kansas $49.29/hr $102,530
Delaware $48.64/hr $101,170
District of Columbia $48.46/hr $100,800
South Carolina $47.89/hr $99,610
Indiana $46.97/hr $97,710
New York $46.22/hr $96,130
Florida $44.51/hr $92,590
Montana $44.36/hr $92,280
Arkansas $44.2/hr $91,930
Utah $43.51/hr $90,490
Nebraska $43.49/hr $90,450
Idaho $43.17/hr $89,780
Mississippi $42.92/hr $89,270
Oregon $42.68/hr $88,770
Connecticut $40.86/hr $84,980
Kentucky $40.83/hr $84,920
New Hampshire $40.68/hr $84,600
Puerto Rico $40.29/hr $83,800
Tennessee $39.72/hr $82,620
North Carolina $39.35/hr $81,840
Pennsylvania $39.22/hr $81,580
Louisiana $38.79/hr $80,680
West Virginia $38.75/hr $80,610
Washington $38.49/hr $80,070
Wyoming $37.26/hr $77,490
Guam $36.92/hr $76,800
Maine $36.81/hr $76,560
Alabama $36.13/hr $75,140
Michigan $35.14/hr $73,090
California $34.54/hr $71,830
Massachusetts $33.92/hr $70,550
New Mexico $33.73/hr $70,150
Ohio $32.85/hr $68,320
Maryland $32.35/hr $67,280
New Jersey $31.53/hr $65,590
Wisconsin $31.34/hr $65,180
Nevada $30.23/hr $62,890
South Dakota $30.13/hr $62,670
Iowa $29.41/hr $61,170


Category: Carpenters

Total # Employed in the US 743,760
Average Hourly Wage: $20.98/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$11.83 $14.62 $18.98 $25.76 $34.01
Average Yearly Salary $43,640
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$24,600 $30,410 $39,470 $53,580 $70,750
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
24.6% 43.8% 19.1% 5.2% 6.1% 0.9% 0.3%
Carpenters — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Indiana $30.79/hr $64,040
Alaska $28.4/hr $59,070
Kansas $27.44/hr $57,070
New York $25.98/hr $54,040
Oklahoma $25.62/hr $53,300
Colorado $25.52/hr $53,090
North Dakota $25.51/hr $53,070
Missouri $25.42/hr $52,880
Delaware $24/hr $49,910
Florida $23.72/hr $49,330
Nebraska $21.79/hr $45,320
Virginia $21.73/hr $45,210
New Hampshire $21.52/hr $44,760
District of Columbia $21.5/hr $44,720
Montana $21.23/hr $44,160
Tennessee $20.88/hr $43,440
Mississippi $20.81/hr $43,290
Utah $20.66/hr $42,980
Connecticut $20.63/hr $42,900
Kentucky $19.81/hr $41,200
North Carolina $19.66/hr $40,890
South Carolina $19.39/hr $40,330
Maine $19.36/hr $40,270
Puerto Rico $18.55/hr $38,590
Arkansas $18.44/hr $38,350
Massachusetts $17.87/hr $37,160
Guam $17.62/hr $36,640
Iowa $17.59/hr $36,590
Louisiana $17.58/hr $36,560
Idaho $17.17/hr $35,710
Hawaii $17.15/hr $35,660
Ohio $17.13/hr $35,630
Maryland $16.98/hr $35,320
New Jersey $16.96/hr $35,290
Michigan $16.89/hr $35,130
California $16.28/hr $33,860
Washington $16.24/hr $33,770
Wisconsin $15.98/hr $33,230
New Mexico $15.94/hr $33,160
Pennsylvania $15.79/hr $32,840
Oregon $15.71/hr $32,670
Wyoming $15.53/hr $32,310
Alabama $15.05/hr $31,310
South Dakota $14.73/hr $30,630
West Virginia $14.73/hr $30,630
Nevada $14.31/hr $29,760


Category: Construction laborers

Total # Employed in the US 856,440
Average Hourly Wage: $15.96/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.86 $10.92 $14.01 $19.11 $27.05
Average Yearly Salary $33,190
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$18,430 $22,700 $29,150 $39,750 $56,270
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
36.0% 39.9% 14.5% 3.8% 4.8% 0.7% 0.3%
Construction laborers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Indiana $23.75/hr $49,400
Alaska $23.65/hr $49,190
Oklahoma $22.81/hr $47,440
Missouri $22.5/hr $46,810
North Dakota $22.42/hr $46,620
Kansas $21.23/hr $44,160
Nebraska $21.04/hr $43,750
Delaware $20.47/hr $42,580
Virginia $20.27/hr $42,160
New Hampshire $18.95/hr $39,410
New York $18.79/hr $39,080
Colorado $18.74/hr $38,980
South Carolina $18.5/hr $38,490
Kentucky $18.03/hr $37,500
New Jersey $17.08/hr $35,530
Montana $16.76/hr $34,850
Tennessee $16.21/hr $33,710
Utah $15.86/hr $32,980
Florida $15.57/hr $32,390
North Carolina $15.31/hr $31,840
Louisiana $14.99/hr $31,170
District of Columbia $14.66/hr $30,490
Mississippi $14.57/hr $30,300
Connecticut $14.53/hr $30,230
Arkansas $14.46/hr $30,070
Maryland $14.4/hr $29,960
Maine $14.25/hr $29,640
Puerto Rico $13.96/hr $29,030
Pennsylvania $13.92/hr $28,960
Iowa $13.62/hr $28,320
Michigan $13.61/hr $28,310
Idaho $13.1/hr $27,250
Washington $13.02/hr $27,090
Guam $12.95/hr $26,930
New Mexico $12.76/hr $26,550
Massachusetts $12.71/hr $26,430
Wisconsin $12.53/hr $26,060
Hawaii $12.45/hr $25,910
South Dakota $12.32/hr $25,620
California $12.18/hr $25,340
Oregon $12.1/hr $25,170
Alabama $11.81/hr $24,560
Ohio $11.67/hr $24,270
West Virginia $11.62/hr $24,160
Nevada $11.39/hr $23,690
Wyoming $11.36/hr $23,620


Category: Construction and related workers, all other

Total # Employed in the US 47,630
Average Hourly Wage: $17.55/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$10.02 $12.66 $16.34 $20.95 $27.44
Average Yearly Salary $36,490
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20,850 $26,330 $33,980 $43,570 $57,070
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
24.2% 45.9% 20.3% 5.1% 3.6% 0.8% 0.1%
Construction and related workers, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Iowa $30.19/hr $62,800
Alaska $25.95/hr $53,970
Kansas $23.76/hr $49,430
Indiana $22.68/hr $47,170
New York $21.13/hr $43,950
Missouri $20.82/hr $43,310
Delaware $19.59/hr $40,740
New Hampshire $19.3/hr $40,150
North Carolina $19.02/hr $39,560
Florida $18.94/hr $39,390
Pennsylvania $18.83/hr $39,170
North Dakota $18.8/hr $39,110
Montana $18.33/hr $38,130
Oklahoma $18.32/hr $38,110
Colorado $18.29/hr $38,040
Tennessee $18.27/hr $38,000
Louisiana $17.95/hr $37,340
Alabama $17.27/hr $35,910
Wisconsin $17.16/hr $35,680
Nebraska $17.05/hr $35,470
Hawaii $16.65/hr $34,630
South Carolina $16.63/hr $34,580
Mississippi $16.61/hr $34,540
Wyoming $16.25/hr $33,800
Idaho $16.22/hr $33,740
Maine $15.87/hr $33,010
Arkansas $15.71/hr $32,680
California $15.52/hr $32,270
New Mexico $15.46/hr $32,160
Utah $15.42/hr $32,070
Washington $15.33/hr $31,880
Guam $15.11/hr $31,430
Connecticut $14.89/hr $30,980
Kentucky $14.65/hr $30,460
Maryland $14.63/hr $30,440
Michigan $14.59/hr $30,340
Nevada $14.54/hr $30,240
Puerto Rico $14.06/hr $29,250
Massachusetts $14.05/hr $29,230
Virginia $14.01/hr $29,140
Oregon $13.87/hr $28,840
South Dakota $13.78/hr $28,670
Ohio $13.46/hr $28,000


Category: Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters

Total # Employed in the US 99,870
Average Hourly Wage: $14.95/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$9.36 $11.35 $14.22 $17.79 $21.95
Average Yearly Salary $31,100
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$19,460 $23,610 $29,570 $37,000 $45,670
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
22.0% 42.0% 20.8% 6.3% 7.3% 1.3% 0.3%
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $23.67/hr $49,230
Mississippi $18.8/hr $39,100
Alaska $18.78/hr $39,070
North Carolina $18.27/hr $38,000
Kansas $18.14/hr $37,730
Delaware $18.14/hr $37,720
Michigan $18.11/hr $37,670
North Dakota $17.41/hr $36,210
Missouri $17.39/hr $36,170
District of Columbia $17.13/hr $35,630
Virginia $16.72/hr $34,770
Indiana $16.69/hr $34,710
Nebraska $16.69/hr $34,720
Puerto Rico $16.47/hr $34,270
Utah $16.41/hr $34,140
Oklahoma $16.22/hr $33,730
New York $16.19/hr $33,680
Montana $15.92/hr $33,120
Colorado $15.82/hr $32,910
New Jersey $15.73/hr $32,710
Pennsylvania $15.49/hr $32,220
Hawaii $15.3/hr $31,830
Tennessee $15.08/hr $31,360
Connecticut $14.9/hr $30,990
Maryland $14.63/hr $30,430
Kentucky $14.46/hr $30,070
Idaho $14.36/hr $29,860
Guam $14.28/hr $29,710
New Hampshire $14.28/hr $29,700
Arkansas $14.23/hr $29,600
South Carolina $14.19/hr $29,520
Washington $14.12/hr $29,380
Oregon $13.86/hr $28,820
Wisconsin $13.8/hr $28,700
New Mexico $13.77/hr $28,640
Ohio $13.66/hr $28,420
Massachusetts $13.61/hr $28,310
Maine $13.41/hr $27,890
California $13.19/hr $27,430
Louisiana $12.99/hr $27,020
Iowa $12.94/hr $26,910
West Virginia $12.77/hr $26,560
Nevada $12.61/hr $26,220
Wyoming $12.31/hr $25,600
South Dakota $12.12/hr $25,200
Alabama $11.75/hr $24,440


Category: Woodworkers, all other

Total # Employed in the US 9,980
Average Hourly Wage: $13.03/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.23 $9.16 $11.43 $15.46 $21.17
Average Yearly Salary $27,090
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17,120 $19,050 $23,770 $32,160 $44,040
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
19.6% 39.0% 20.7% 6.0% 10.9% 2.8% 0.9%
Woodworkers, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Idaho $22.01/hr $45,780
Florida $20.19/hr $41,990
Mississippi $19.41/hr $40,370
South Dakota $18.66/hr $38,820
Montana $18.61/hr $38,700
Delaware $17.17/hr $35,710
Oregon $17.09/hr $35,540
Michigan $16.88/hr $35,120
Utah $16.44/hr $34,180
Indiana $16.4/hr $34,110
Wyoming $16.01/hr $33,300
North Dakota $15.98/hr $33,240
Nebraska $15.1/hr $31,410
Oklahoma $14.51/hr $30,190
Hawaii $14.15/hr $29,430
Washington $13.88/hr $28,880
Puerto Rico $13.45/hr $27,980
Tennessee $13.34/hr $27,740
Massachusetts $13.34/hr $27,740
Connecticut $13.1/hr $27,240
New Jersey $12.89/hr $26,820
Alabama $12.77/hr $26,570
Guam $12.75/hr $26,520
North Carolina $12.5/hr $25,990
Kansas $12.27/hr $25,530
Colorado $12.14/hr $25,260
Louisiana $12.07/hr $25,100
Wisconsin $12.04/hr $25,040
New Mexico $11.6/hr $24,130
South Carolina $11.58/hr $24,090
Virginia $11.44/hr $23,790
Iowa $10.71/hr $22,280
New Hampshire $10.69/hr $22,230
California $10.34/hr $21,510
Kentucky $9.82/hr $20,420
Maryland $9.41/hr $19,580


Category: Construction Carpenters

Total # Employed in the US 743,760
Average Hourly Wage: $20.98/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$11.83 $14.62 $18.98 $25.76 $34.01
Average Yearly Salary $43,640
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$24,600 $30,410 $39,470 $53,580 $70,750
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
24.6% 43.8% 19.1% 5.2% 6.1% 0.9% 0.3%


Category: Rough Carpenters

Total # Employed in the US 743,760
Average Hourly Wage: $20.98/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$11.83 $14.62 $18.98 $25.76 $34.01
Average Yearly Salary $43,640
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$24,600 $30,410 $39,470 $53,580 $70,750
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
24.6% 43.8% 19.1% 5.2% 6.1% 0.9% 0.3%


Category: Helpers--Carpenters

Total # Employed in the US 62,020
Average Hourly Wage: $12.87/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.41 $10.08 $12.43 $15.11 $17.79
Average Yearly Salary $26,770
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17,490 $20,970 $25,860 $31,420 $37,000
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
43.6% 35.9% 14.0% 3.2% 2.8% 0.2% 0.3%


Carpentry Programs by State & City