Best Carpenters institutions in the US, ranked by earnings
Compare 215 U.S. colleges offering Carpenters by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 39 states.
About Carpenters programs
The Carpenters program focuses on the skilled trade of carpentry, which involves the cutting, shaping, and installation of building materials in various construction projects. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in construction trades, particularly those who enjoy working with their hands and have a passion for building and design.
Students in the Carpenters program will gain essential skills in areas such as active listening, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework typically covers building and construction knowledge, blueprint reading, and the use of hand and power tools, preparing students for practical applications in the field.
Top 13 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree | $51,104 | 440 | 40% | — | $9,125 |
| 2 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public · Associate degree | $44,602 | 12 | 43% | — | — |
| 3 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Certificate degree | $43,440 | 10 | 45% | — | — |
| 4 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WI Public · Certificate degree | $43,008 | 4 | 34% | — | — |
| 5 | Triangle Tech Inc - Bethlehem Bethlehem, PA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $40,572 | 21 | 78% | $23,639 | $12,610 |
| 6 | North Bennet Street School Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $39,058 | 3 | 90% | $35,199 | $15,560 |
| 7 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Associate degree | $38,268 | 11 | 20% | — | $15,624 |
| 8 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA Public · Associate degree | $37,611 | 38 | 71% | — | $7,266 |
| 9 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $35,975 | 33 | 53% | $17,520 | $12,000 |
| 10 | Triangle Tech Inc - Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $35,877 | 25 | 55% | $19,670 | $20,000 |
| 11 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Certificate degree | $34,421 | 27 | 39% | — | — |
| 12 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $21,916 | 12 | 90% | $19,184 | $7,521 |
| 13 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College Chicago, IL Public · Certificate degree | $17,697 | 63 | 31% | — | $13,175 |
Offered across 39 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianalimited | 2 | $51,104 | Ivy Tech Community College |
| Iowa | 12 | $44,602 | Hawkeye Community College |
| Minnesota | 13 | $43,440 | St Cloud Technical and Community College |
| Wisconsin | 12 | $43,008 | Western Technical College |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | $39,058 | North Bennet Street School |
| Texas | 3 | $38,268 | Austin Community College District |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | $37,611 | Triangle Tech Inc - Bethlehem |
| Missouri | 3 | $35,975 | Ranken Technical College |
| Illinois | 4 | $17,697 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College |
| Hawaii | 3 | — | — |
| Alabama | 3 | — | — |
| Alaskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Arizona | 7 | — | — |
| Arkansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| California | 7 | — | — |
| Colorado | 3 | — | — |
| Florida | 9 | — | — |
| Georgia | 16 | — | — |
| Kansas | 15 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 10 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Michigan | 4 | — | — |
| Mississippi | 5 | — | — |
| Montana | 4 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 2 | — | — |
| New Mexico | 3 | — | — |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 2 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 9 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 23 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Utah | 5 | — | — |
| Washington | 7 | — | — |
| Wyominglimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2031, Carpenters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Carpenters program can look forward to a positive job outlook, with an expected growth rate of 4.5% and approximately 74,100 annual openings in the field. The median wage for carpenters is around $59,310, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into this profession.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Carpenters programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
Tools & technology
Concentrations within Carpenters
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Carpentry/CarpenterCIP 46.0201
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to lay out, cut, fabricate, erect, install, and repair wooden structures and fixtures, using hand and power tools
Common questions
What is the primary focus of the Carpenters program?+
The program focuses on carpentry skills, including cutting, shaping, and installing building materials.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, mathematics, and practical carpentry techniques.
What is the job outlook for carpenters?+
The job outlook for carpenters is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.5%.
What education is required to become a carpenter?+
Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required to enter the carpentry field.
Related programs
Other programs in the same field of study.
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