Carpentry at a Glance: Training, Salary and Employment Opportunities
Carpentry is a highly skilled profession. The basic definition of a carpenter is a craftsperson skilled in woodwork. Carpenters must be in good physical shape, have strong mathematical skills and have an eye for detail. Carpenters also need manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination and a good sense of balance. There is always a need for carpenters from building highways and high rises to hanging cabinets and building tree houses. Many carpenters are also skilled in other fields, such as masonry, tile and plumbing.
Training to Become a Carpenter
There are many vocational schools and community colleges throughout the U.S. which offer vocational training programs for carpenters. These programs usually consist of 3-4 years of training, which includes classroom instruction and hands on training. There are also some employers who offer apprenticeships, but the majority of apprenticeships are offered by commercial and industrial building contractors with union membership. The best way for a carpenter to gain experience is to work one-on-one with another carpenter as an assistant. This type of in-the-field training is best for those carpenters who wish to practice finish carpentry.
A Typical Carpenter’s Salary
According to the United States Department of Labor, in May 2006, "Median hourly earnings of wage and salary carpenters were $17.57. The middle 50 percent earned between $13.55 and $23.85. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.87, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $30.45." There are other job opportunities for carpenters, such as becoming general construction supervisors. General construction supervisors can make about $70,000 a year. Skilled carpenters also have the option for becoming a general contractor or independent carpentry contractor. Successful contractors can make just as much as a construction supervisor, or more.
Employment Opportunities for Carpenters
Employment opportunities are the best for those carpenters with the most training and skills. Carpenters make up the largest building trades occupation. They held about 1.5 million jobs in 2006. In 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, "About 32 percent of carpenters worked in construction of buildings and about 23 percent worked for specialty trade contractors. Most of the rest of the wage and salary carpenters worked for manufacturing firms, government agencies, retail establishments, and a wide variety of other industries. About 32 percent of all carpenters were self-employed."
Employment of carpenters is expected to increase in the next few years. There are always roads and homes that need to be built. Carpenters will be able to find employment with companies who will be modernizing the expanding schools and industrial plants throughout the U.S.
Additional Resources:
- Alexandria Technical College
- Everest Institute
- The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): A not-for-profit education foundation created to develop industry-driven standardized craft training programs with portable credentials and help address the critical workforce shortage facing the construction industry.
