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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $59,310 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $33,900 and $89,920 and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows low AI exposure (0.34 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Coordination, Active Listening, Mathematics, Complex Problem Solving.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £34,014 a year for Carpenters and joiners (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £28,900 to £40,477 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5316). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Carpenters, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification ITI trade 'Wood Work Technician' (1 year, after Class 8) under the Craftsmen Training Scheme[1][2]
- 2 · Certification Pass the all-India trade test to get the National Trade Certificate (NTC) from DGT[1]
- 3 · First role Carpenter (general) or construction carpenter[1]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- DGT — Wood Work Technician trade syllabus (Craftsmen Training Scheme) (read on 2026-09-27)
- DGT — List of CTS courses (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- Design
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
A day in the life
You arrive at a construction site at 7 AM, review the blueprints with the foreman, then start framing walls—measuring, cutting, and nailing studs together with speed and precision. By mid-morning you might be setting roof rafters, hanging plywood sheathing, or installing pre-hung doors, constantly checking your work with a level and tape measure. Afternoons could involve custom trim work that requires meticulous mitering and fitting, or pouring and forming concrete for a foundation. The work is physical and creative—you can see the tangible results of your labor at the end of every day—and there is real pride in driving past a building years later and knowing your hands helped build it.
Illustrative: one typical day. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Carpenters do?
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 does a typical day look like in Carpenters?
You arrive at a construction site at 7 AM, review the blueprints with the foreman, then start framing walls—measuring, cutting, and nailing studs together with speed and precision. By mid-morning you might be setting roof rafters, hanging plywood sheathing, or installing pre-hung doors, constantly checking your work with a level and tape measure. Afternoons could involve custom trim work that requires meticulous mitering and fitting, or pouring and forming concrete for a foundation.
How much does Carpenters earn?
The median annual salary for Carpenters in the US is $59,310. The middle 80% of workers earn between $33,900 and $89,920 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $42,130 and $72,000.
What is the job outlook for Carpenters?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 959,000 workers.
How do I become a carpenters?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Carpenters need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Coordination, Active Listening, Mathematics, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Carpenters?
Our AI-durability model gives Carpenters a score of 0.34 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Carpenters has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.