Carpenters

Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.

What you'd actually do

• Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
• Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
• Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
• Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
• Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
• Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 26.8% of carpenters are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

• Structural Iron and Steel Workers
• Electricians
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
• Construction and Building Inspectors
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
• Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Quick questions

How much does a carpenter make?

The median pay is $29.12 per hour — roughly $60,500 a year, with the real range running from about $19.43/hr (10th percentile) to $48.03/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a carpenter?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a carpenter actually do all day?

Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment. Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge. Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.