Skilled Trades
Carpenter
Frame, finish, and remodel buildings. Master carpenters who run their own crews regularly earn six figures.
no-degree-requiredpaid-traininghands-on
62
ROI · Strong
Investment vs return
Cost · time · demand normalized 0–100
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$38k
$56k
$88k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+2%
+2% (Average)
Open positions
89,000
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Fastest ROI
Apprenticeship In Person
UBC Journeyman Carpenter
Time
3–4 years (paid)
Cost
Paid / Free
Paid + benefits while learning.
Trade School In Person
Carpentry Certificate
Time
6–18 months
Cost
$3,000 – $15,000
Top programs
Faster start.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
3–4 years (paid)
You'd spend (avg)
Paid / Free
Starting salary
$38,000
Mid-career
$56,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · UBC