What Does a Carpenter Do?
Carpenters build the wooden parts of a building and much of what holds concrete in place while it cures. On new construction that means framing walls, floors and roofs, setting door and window openings, and building forms for footings and walls. Finish carpenters hang doors, run trim and install cabinets and stairs, where tolerances are tight and mistakes show. Remodelers do some of everything, often opening a wall to find rot or a bad earlier repair. Most work for general contractors or framing subcontractors and move between job sites as each phase wraps up.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Bridge Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Concrete Carpenter, Construction Carpenter, Form Carpenter, Framer, Maintenance Carpenter, Rough Carpenter.
Carpenter Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a carpenter include:
- Study plans and specifications to lay out walls, openings and floor systems and to list the lumber, sheathing and hardware needed.
- Measure and mark stock with a tape, square and chalk line, then cut it with circular, miter or table saws.
- Frame walls, floors and roofs, including headers, joists and rafters or trusses, using nail guns and hand tools.
- Check framing for plumb, level and square with levels, lasers and string lines, and correct it before sheathing goes on.
- Build and brace concrete forms for footings, walls and slabs, and strip them after the pour.
- Set doors, windows, cabinets, stairs and interior trim, shimming and scribing for tight fits.
- Cut out rotted or damaged framing, siding or subfloor and install replacements.
- Install subflooring and lay hardwood floors over a moisture barrier.
- Erect scaffolding and ladders and set up fall protection for work at height.
- Keep daily logs, punch lists and progress notes for the foreman, and clean up the work area at the end of the shift.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a carpenter, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Accurate measuring and layout, including stair calculations, rafter cuts and squaring a building with the 3-4-5 method
- Safe, confident use of circular saws, miter saws, table saws, framing nailers and powder-actuated tools
- Blueprint reading for framing, formwork and finish details
- Working knowledge of local building code requirements for framing, stairs, guardrails and fire blocking
- Fall protection, scaffold and power tool safety, often backed by an OSHA 10-hour card
- Problem solving when walls are out of plumb or the plans do not match site conditions
- Working in rhythm with a framing crew, calling out cuts and passing material without wasted motion
- Physical stamina and balance on ladders, roofs and open floor joists
Education and Training
About 52 percent of carpenters report a high school diploma as their highest level of education, and roughly 21 percent hold a post-secondary certificate from a trade school or community college. You can start as a helper and learn on the job, or join a union or contractor apprenticeship, which typically lasts three to four years and pairs paid work with classroom instruction in framing, formwork, finish work, blueprint reading and safety. High school shop, math and drafting classes help. Most states do not license individual carpenters, though contractors who run their own jobs often need a state or local contractor license.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $48,510 - $76,830 per year, with a median of $60,580.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Carpenters.
Employment of carpenters is projected to grow steadily with construction activity. Carpenters with diverse skills across residential and commercial construction will have the best job prospects. Experienced carpenters may become supervisors or start their own contracting businesses.
Carpenter Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $40,410 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $48,510 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $60,580 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $76,830 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $99,910 |
Highest-Paying States for Carpenters
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Hawaii ($85,280), Illinois ($79,000), California ($75,920), Massachusetts ($75,200), Washington ($74,190). Pay is lowest in South Dakota ($48,140), Arkansas ($47,760), Oklahoma ($46,910).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,220 |
| Alaska | $73,860 |
| Arizona | $58,580 |
| Arkansas | $47,760 |
| California | $75,920 |
| Colorado | $62,830 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 |
| Delaware | $59,200 |
| District of Columbia | $61,710 |
| Florida | $49,870 |
| Georgia | $49,350 |
| Hawaii | $85,280 |
| Idaho | $52,000 |
| Illinois | $79,000 |
| Indiana | $62,870 |
| Iowa | $57,710 |
| Kansas | $56,960 |
| Kentucky | $52,680 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 |
| Maine | $62,160 |
| Maryland | $62,960 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 |
| Michigan | $61,680 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 |
| Mississippi | $48,650 |
| Missouri | $60,840 |
| Montana | $58,820 |
| Nebraska | $50,320 |
| Nevada | $62,380 |
| New Hampshire | $61,200 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 |
| New Mexico | $59,720 |
| New York | $72,330 |
| North Carolina | $49,100 |
| North Dakota | $57,890 |
| Ohio | $60,810 |
| Oklahoma | $46,910 |
| Oregon | $62,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,370 |
| Rhode Island | $60,840 |
| South Carolina | $50,670 |
| South Dakota | $48,140 |
| Tennessee | $50,830 |
| Texas | $48,900 |
| Utah | $52,360 |
| Vermont | $62,400 |
| Virginia | $55,690 |
| Washington | $74,190 |
| West Virginia | $48,710 |
| Wisconsin | $61,660 |
| Wyoming | $56,850 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as carpenters about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 95% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 90% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 89% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 86% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 81% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 59% deal with loud or distracting noise every day
- 55% work against deadlines every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 52% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 21% |
| Less than high school | 18% |
| Some college | 8% |
Tools and Software Carpenters Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Speaking.
Knowledge areas used most: Building and Construction, Administration and Management, Mathematics, Design, Engineering and Technology.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Carpenter Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 47-2031.00 (Carpenters). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 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. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.