Carpenters — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$60,580
United States, 2025
Employment
670,090
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 47-2031.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Select and order lumber or other required materials.
- Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
- Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$40,410
25th percentile
$48,510
75th percentile
$76,830
90th percentile
$99,910
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Listening3.4
- Coordination3.3
- Speaking3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Mathematics3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 12 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
12
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $56,460
Compare with CarpentersSupplemental
National median $42,360
Compare with CarpentersSupplemental
National median $49,120
Compare with CarpentersSupplemental
National median $65,380
Compare with CarpentersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $95,280 | 120 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | 3,120 | 2025 |
| Michigan City, IN | $91,970 | 260 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $89,200 | 14,010 | 2025 |
| Decatur, IL | $87,220 | 180 | 2025 |
| HI | $85,280 | 4,810 | 2025 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $84,970 | 280 | 2025 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | 650 | 2025 |
| Kahului, HI | $82,110 | 700 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $80,590 | 650 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $80,520 | 2,150 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $80,440 | 14,220 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $80,190 | 4,460 | 2025 |
| IL | $79,000 | 19,570 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $77,690 | 700 | 2025 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $77,220 | 820 | 2025 |
| Springfield, IL | $76,970 | 290 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $76,410 | 14,970 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,220 | 660 | 2025 |
| Yuba City, CA | $76,100 | 220 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Carpenters to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.