Carpenters
Also called: Aluminum Siding Applicator, Aluminum Siding Installer, Aluminum Siding Mechanic, Assembled Wood Products Repairer, Beam Builder, Boat Carpenter, Boat Carpenter Mechanic, Bowling Alley Floors Installer
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.
What carpenters do
Typical tasks
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Select and order lumber or other required materials.
- Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
- Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
- Remove damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools.
- Install rough door and window frames, subflooring, fixtures, or temporary supports in structures undergoing construction or repair.
- Erect scaffolding or ladders for assembling structures above ground level.
- Maintain job records and schedule work crew.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Carpenters salary
The median annual wage for carpenters is $60,580 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $40,410 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $99,910. The mean annual wage is $65,630.
The mean hourly wage of $31.00 is 4.3× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Carpenters (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $60,580 → in 3 years $66,800 → in 5 years $71,300 → in 10 years $83,800 (10-year range $72,100–$97,300). The model assumes pay growth of +3.3% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Carpenters
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Carpenters? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Carpenters
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Carpenters United States | 型枠大工 Japan | 大工 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $60,580 | ¥4.15M ≈ $26,360 | ¥4.85M ≈ $30,874 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $83,800 | ¥5.55M | ¥6.85M |
| Outlook score | 67 | 60 | 73 |
| AI replacement risk | 9% Very low | 8% Very low | 20% Very low |
| Workers | 670K | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Carpenters
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become carpenters
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as carpenters
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.