Career profile · SOC 47-2031

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.

Median salary
$59,310
per year
Growth outlook
Average
BLS 10-yr
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure
1.3/10
automation risk

Salary distribution (US)

Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.

Bottom 10%
$33,900
25th %ile
$42,130
Median
$59,310
75th %ile
$72,000
Top 10%
$89,920

Top skills

Critical Thinking Coordination Active Listening Mathematics Complex Problem Solving Quality Control Analysis Speaking Judgment and Decision Making Time Management Monitoring

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.

Is Carpenters right for you?

Take the Holland test + Big-5 to see how well this career matches your profile.

Get personalised fit →