Best colleges for Carpenters
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Carpenters by graduate earnings are Ivy Tech Community College ($51,104), Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology ($37,611) and Ranken Technical College ($35,975), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, IN): $51,104, 415 graduates a year
- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (Lancaster, PA): $37,611, 24 graduates a year
- Ranken Technical College (Saint Louis, MO): $35,975, 32 graduates a year
- Des Moines Area Community College (Ankeny, IA): $34,421, 29 graduates a year
- Orleans Technical College (Philadelphia, PA): $21,916, 31 graduates a year
Compare 205 U.S. colleges offering Carpenters by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 40 states.
Carpenters programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,268 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 46.02 and the Carpenters occupation (BLS SOC).
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 11 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree | $51,104 | 415 | 40% | — | $9,125 |
| 2 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA Public · Associate degree | $37,611 | 24 | 71% | — | $7,266 |
| 3 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $35,975 | 32 | 53% | $17,520 | $12,000 |
| 4 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Certificate | $34,421 | 29 | 39% | — | — |
| 5 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $21,916 | 31 | 90% | $19,184 | $7,521 |
| 6 | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL Public · Certificate | $17,697 | 67 | 31% | — | $13,175 |
| 7 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public · Associate degree Small program | $44,602 | 8 | 43% | — | — |
| 8 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Certificate Small program | $43,440 | 18 | 45% | — | — |
| 9 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WI Public · Certificate Small program | $43,008 | 15 | 34% | — | — |
| 10 | North Bennet Street School Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Certificate Small program | $39,058 | 10 | 90% | $35,199 | $15,560 |
| 11 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Associate degree Small program | $38,268 | 19 | 20% | — | $15,624 |
Specializations within Carpenters
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 46.02 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 40 states & territories
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 | 1 | $51,104 | Ivy Tech Community College |
| Iowa | 12 | $44,602 | Hawkeye Community College |
| Minnesota | 12 | $43,440 | St Cloud Technical and Community College |
| Wisconsin | 11 | $43,008 | Western Technical College |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | $39,058 | North Bennet Street School |
| Texaslimited | 1 | $38,268 | Austin Community College District |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | $37,611 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology |
| Missouri | 4 | $35,975 | Ranken Technical College |
| Illinois | 5 | $17,697 | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College |
| Alabama | 3 | — | — |
| Alaskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Arizona | 8 | — | — |
| California | 7 | — | — |
| Colorado | 5 | — | — |
| Florida | 8 | — | — |
| Georgia | 15 | — | — |
| Hawaiilimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kansas | 15 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 10 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Michigan | 4 | — | — |
| Mississippi | 5 | — | — |
| Montana | 4 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Mexico | 3 | — | — |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 8 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 23 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Utah | 4 | — | — |
| Washington | 6 | — | — |
| Wyominglimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marshall Islandslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 2 | — | — |
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
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Carpenters
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 46.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 46.02 (Carpenters) maps to 2 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 47-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers |
| 47-2031 | Carpentersprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
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.
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.
How much do Carpenters graduates earn?+
Carpenters graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,268, College Scorecard (2019); the Carpenters occupation pays about $65,630 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Carpenters?+
Carpenters maps to CIP 46.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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