Best programs to become a carpenter
You do not need a college degree to become a carpenter. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Carpentry/Carpenter (IPEDS completions).
1 college program at 205 schools trains carpenters, graduating 6,053 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $60,580 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Best programs to study to become a carpenter
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carpentry/Carpentermain feeder CIP 46.0201 | 6,053 | 100.0% | 205 | $37,611 | $12,610 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American River College Sacramento, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 500 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 37% | — | — |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 415 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 40% | — | — |
| 3 | Rio Hondo College Whittier, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 340 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 25% | — | — |
| 4 | J F Ingram State Technical College Deatsville, AL Public · 1 feeder program | 294 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 21% | — | — |
| 5 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA Public · 1 feeder program | 138 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 24% | — | — |
| 6 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 126 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 35% | — | — |
| 7 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 125 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 49% | — | — |
| 8 | Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 108 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 27% | — | — |
| 9 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 101 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 51% | — | — |
| 10 | Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 88 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 81% | — | — |
| 11 | Philadelphia Technician Training Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 84 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 50% | $22,992 | — |
| 12 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 84 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 43% | — | — |
| 13 | Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 77 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 48% | — | — |
| 14 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · 1 feeder program | 77 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 42% | — | — |
| 15 | Uintah Basin Technical College Roosevelt, UT Public · 1 feeder program | 75 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 86% | — | — |
| 16 | Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 74 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 31% | — | — |
| 17 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 72 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 47% | — | — |
| 18 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 70 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 29% | — | — |
| 19 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 69 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 32% | — | — |
| 20 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 67 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 31% | — | — |
| 21 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 66 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 43% | — | — |
| 22 | Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 66 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 56% | — | — |
| 23 | Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Cumberland, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 62 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 47% | — | — |
| 24 | Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 59 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 27% | — | — |
| 25 | Honolulu Community College Honolulu, HI Public · 1 feeder program | 59 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 25% | — | — |
| 26 | Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 59 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 54% | — | — |
| 27 | Aims Community College Greeley, CO Public · 1 feeder program | 57 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 40% | — | — |
| 28 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 55 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 35% | — | — |
| 29 | San Juan College Farmington, NM Public · 1 feeder program | 55 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 37% | — | — |
| 30 | Somerset Community College Somerset, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 50 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 43% | — | — |
| 31 | West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 49 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 50% | — | — |
| 32 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA Public · 1 feeder program | 48 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 50% | — | — |
| 33 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 46 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 42% | — | — |
| 34 | Southwestern Community College Creston, IA Public · 1 feeder program | 46 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 59% | — | — |
| 35 | Yavapai College Prescott, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 42 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 34% | — | — |
| 36 | Hinds Community College Raymond, MS Public · 1 feeder program | 39 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 43% | — | — |
| 37 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 38 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 56% | — | — |
| 38 | Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 37 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 74% | — | — |
| 39 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA Public · 1 feeder program | 37 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 61% | — | — |
| 40 | Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 36 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 68% | — | — |
| 41 | Meridian Technology Center Stillwater, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 35 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 48% | — | — |
| 42 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 38% | — | — |
| 43 | Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 52% | — | — |
| 44 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 32 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 53% | $17,520 | — |
| 45 | Lake Superior College Duluth, MN Public · 1 feeder program | 31 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 42% | — | — |
| 46 | Northwest Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals, AL Public · 1 feeder program | 31 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 39% | — | — |
| 47 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 31 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 90% | $19,184 | 80% |
| 48 | South Mountain Community College Phoenix, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 31 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 16% | — | — |
| 49 | Southern Oklahoma Technology Center Ardmore, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 31 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 83% | — | — |
| 50 | Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder program | 30 | Carpentry/Carpenter | 97% | — | — |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What carpenters earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $75,920 | 100,750 | 1.28× | 7 | 938 |
| Kentucky | $52,680 | 8,540 | 0.99× | 10 | 600 |
| Georgia | $49,350 | 9,190 | 0.44× | 15 | 563 |
| Oklahoma | $46,910 | 3,820 | 0.52× | 23 | 423 |
| Indianalimited | $62,870 | 15,240 | 1.10× | 1 | 415 |
| Kansas | $56,960 | 5,210 | 0.84× | 15 | 355 |
| Alabamamoderate | $48,220 | 5,560 | 0.61× | 3 | 331 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,370 | 30,630 | 1.17× | 8 | 326 |
| Wisconsin | $61,660 | 13,880 | 1.09× | 11 | 315 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | 5,770 | 0.86× | 12 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 | 14,930 | 1.17× | 12 | 228 |
| Arizona | $58,580 | 16,230 | 1.16× | 8 | 210 |
| Illinois | $79,000 | 19,570 | 0.74× | 5 | 116 |
| Utahmoderate | $52,360 | 15,220 | 2.03× | 4 | 111 |
| Colorado | $62,830 | 12,740 | 1.03× | 5 | 105 |
| Mississippi | $48,650 | 2,950 | 0.59× | 5 | 86 |
| North Carolina | $49,100 | 13,480 | 0.63× | 8 | 86 |
| Florida | $49,870 | 39,300 | 0.92× | 8 | 79 |
| Hawaiilimited | $85,280 | 4,810 | 1.78× | 2 | 74 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $59,720 | 3,630 | 0.97× | 3 | 59 |
| Washington | $74,190 | 26,960 | 1.76× | 6 | 57 |
| Missourimoderate | $60,840 | 14,410 | 1.14× | 4 | 40 |
| Montanamoderate | $58,820 | 4,030 | 1.83× | 4 | 38 |
| Louisianalimited | $49,920 | 8,990 | 1.08× | 2 | 32 |
| New Jerseylimited | $64,010 | 14,230 | 0.77× | 2 | 31 |
| Michiganmoderate | $61,680 | 18,590 | 0.98× | 4 | 29 |
| New Yorklimited | $72,330 | 40,630 | 0.97× | 2 | 28 |
| South Carolinalimited | $50,670 | 6,950 | 0.70× | 1 | 25 |
| Virginialimited | $55,690 | 20,460 | 1.16× | 1 | 20 |
| North Dakotalimited | $57,890 | 2,360 | 1.28× | 2 | 19 |
| Texaslimited | $48,900 | 33,540 | 0.55× | 1 | 19 |
| Nebraskalimited | $50,320 | 5,710 | 1.29× | 2 | 16 |
| Massachusettslimited | $75,200 | 18,540 | 1.18× | 1 | 10 |
| Ohiolimited | $60,810 | 18,450 | 0.77× | 2 | 8 |
| Alaskalimited | $73,860 | 2,560 | 1.82× | 1 | 5 |
| Nevadalimited | $62,380 | 12,700 | 1.90× | 1 | 3 |
| Oregonlimited | $62,870 | 15,110 | 1.78× | 1 | 2 |
| South Dakotalimited | $48,140 | 4,560 | 2.32× | 1 | 1 |
| Wyominglimited | $56,850 | 2,260 | 1.87× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to 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.
- 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.
- Inspect ceiling or floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass, or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.
- Erect scaffolding or ladders for assembling structures above ground level.
Skills
- Monitoring3.4
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Active Listening3.4
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Active Learning3.0
- Mathematics3.0
- Writing2.9
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction4.7
- Administration and Management3.9
- Mathematics3.9
- Design3.9
- Engineering and Technology3.6
- Public Safety and Security3.5
Abilities
- Visualization3.9
- Problem Sensitivity3.9
- Manual Dexterity3.6
- Near Vision3.6
- Finger Dexterity3.6
- Information Ordering3.5
Core activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.2
- Getting Information4.1
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.1
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.1
- Handling and Moving Objects4.0
- Performing General Physical Activities4.0
How to get in
How to become a carpenter
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Carpenters1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 46.0201Carpentry/Carpenter
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a carpenter?+
You do not need a college degree to become a carpenter. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Carpentry/Carpenter (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a carpenter?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Carpentry/Carpenter (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 program to this job, which graduates about 6,053 people a year.
How much do carpenters earn?+
The median is $60,580 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $40,410 at the 10th percentile to $99,910 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for carpenters growing?+
BLS projects a +4.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 74,100 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
205 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 program that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do carpenters work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Form Carpenter, Scaffold Builder among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 47-2031.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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