Job Match: Carpenters
What They Do
Carpenters construct and repair building frameworks and structures - such as stairways, doorframes, partitions and rafters - made from wood and other materials.
Typical tasks include:
• Following blueprints and building plans
to meet the needs of clients
• Installing structures and fixtures,
such as windows and molding
• Measuring, cutting or shaping wood,
plastic, fiberglass, drywall, and other materials
• Constructing building frameworks, including
wall studs, floor joists, and doorframes
• Inspecting and replacing damaged
framework or other structures and fixtures
• Instructing and directing laborers
and other construction trade helpers
Most carpenters learn their trade through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship. For each year of the program, apprentices must complete at least 144 hours of paid technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training.
What They Make
The median annual wage of carpenters was $39,530 in May 2010 with a range from $24,650 to $71,660.
Where They Work
Most carpenters work in the construction industry, where they account for the largest share of the building trades occupations.
Residential building construction: 17 percent
Nonresidential building construction:
Building finishing contractors: 9 percent
Foundation, structure, and building
exterior contractors: 7 percent
About 39 percent of carpenters were self-employed in 2010.
Demand for carpenters is expected to grow by 20 percent through 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.
2020 projection: 1,197,600
Numeric change: + 196,000
Percent change: + 20 percent
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Employment Projections program
Drivers / Trends
• Overall job prospects for carpenters
should improve over the coming decade
as construction activity rebounds from the
• Population growth should result
in new-home construction - the largest
segment employing carpenters - which will
stimulate the need for many new workers.
• The need to repair and replace roads
and bridges also will spur some employment
growth for carpenters.
• Construction of factories and power plants
also may result in some new jobs.
• Offsetting growth, however, will be the
increasing use of modular and prefabricated
components that replace the most labor-
intensive and time-consuming onsite building
• Because construction activity parallels
the movement of people and businesses, areas
of the country with the largest population
increases will require the most carpenters.
• Employment of carpenters, like that of
many other construction workers, is sensitive
to fluctuations in the economy. Periods of
unemployment may be followed by shortages
of carpenters during peak periods of building.
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JobMatch is intended to help readers explore career options. This column is not an offer of employment. All information is from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 unless otherwise noted.