Growing a Career as a Carpenter
Carpentry is an essential trade in society. It includes woodworking and handling all manner of tools and hardware. A carpenter is a builder and helps to fabricate, renovate and maintain buildings and their interior. There are a few different ways to become a carpenter, such as taking selective courses or enrolling in a technical college or trade school full time to earn certificates, a diploma or degree. Carpenters can also apprentice formally or informally to get on-the-job training and “pay their dues” to learn the trade. These options provide real-time “hands-on” training in this space. It is usually a combination of taking some courses and apprenticing with a more senior carpenter that makes the best foundation for training.
Carpenters help clients with:
- Building and maintaining structures
- Woodworking
- Using power tools
- Household repairs
How Much do Carpenters Make?
Carpenters can earn roughly between $25,000 and $80,000 annually, with an average salary being about $45,000. More remote states such as Hawaii, Alaska and more populous states pay the highest wages. A carpenter’s salary can fluctuate greatly depending on his/her location and his/her cost of living and transportations costs. Qualifications, hours worked, taxes, rules, and regulations also play a big part in your take-home wages.