Carpenter

Career Overview

Carpenters build and repair buildings and anything related to those structures (cabinets, stairs, windows, etc.)

Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is likely necessary to obtain one of these positions. Some learn this trade through an apprenticeship program, while others learn this on the job.

Future Outlook

Employment of carpenters is projected to show little or no change from 2019 to 2029. Population growth should result in more new-home construction—one of the largest segments employing carpenters—which will create some jobs for carpenters. Construction of factories and power plants is also expected to result in some new jobs over the decade.

Work Environment

Because carpenters are involved in many types of construction, they work both indoors and outdoors. The work is sometimes strenuous, and potentially dangerous.

Recommended High School Courses

Math
Geometry
Drafting
Geometric Design
Carpentry
Woodworking
Shop

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Clean work sites.
Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
Mark reference points on construction materials.
Measure materials or objects for installation or assembly.
Cut wood components for installation.
Install wooden structural components.
Install building fixtures.
Install doors or windows.
Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
Order construction or extraction materials or equipment.
Select construction materials.
Coordinate construction project activities.
Prepare operational reports.
Estimate construction project costs.
Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
Inspect work sites to determine condition or necessary repairs.
Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
Build construction forms or molds.
Apply decorative or textured finishes or coverings.
Prepare hazardous waste for processing or disposal.
Install trim or paneling.
Apply material to fill gaps in surfaces.
Install carpet or flooring.
Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
Weld metal components.

Schools

Alaska Technical Center

American River College

Arizona Western College

Atlanta Technical College

Atlantic Technical Colleg...

Central New Mexico Commun...

College Of Southern Nevad...

Columbus State Community...

Community College Of Alle...

Emily Griffith Technical...

Francis Tuttle Technology...

Gateway Community College...

Iḷisaġvik College

Interior Alaska Campus

Milwaukee Area Technical...

Northeast Wisconsin Techn...

Penn Foster Career School

Thaddeus Stevens College...

University Of Alaska

University Of Alaska Fair...

University Of The Arts

Washburn University- Inst...

York Technical College

Yuut Elitnaurviat

Academy Canada- Corner... ●

Academy Canada- St. Jo...

Assiniboine Community...

Aurora College

Boreal College- Sudbur...

Cambrian College

Canadore College- Comm...

Canadore College- Stan...

Canadore College- West...

Coast Mountain College...

Collège Boréal

College Of New Caledon...

College Of The North A...

Conestoga College- Wat...

Confederation College

Durham College- Oshawa...

Durham College- Whitby...

École Des Metiers Et O...

Fanshawe College- Lond...

Fleming College- Suthe...

Georgian College- Barr...

Georgian College- Musk...

Georgian College- Owen...

Grande Prairie Regiona...

Humber College- North...

Keyin College

Kwantlen Polytechnic U...

Lakeland College- Verm...

Loyalist College

Manitoba Institute Of...

Mohawk College- Stoney...

Montreal School Of Con...

New Brunswick Communit...

Niagara College- Wella...

North Island College-...

North West College- Me...

Northern Lakes College

Northern Lights Colleg...

Nova Scotia Community...

Okanagan College- Kelo...

Okanagan Valley Colleg...

Red Deer College- Main...

Sait - Southern Albert...

Saskatchewan Polytechn...

Selkirk College- Castl...

St. Claire College- Wi...

Thompson Rivers Univer...

University Of Northern...

Vancouver Island Unive...

Yukon University

Vancouver Island Univer...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Curt Pozan Trades Scholar...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$30,170.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$48,330.00 /yr

High End:

$84,690.00 /yr

Related Careers

Drafters

Aircraft/Avionics Mechanics & Techs

Construction Laborer

Firefighter

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.