Carpenter - Careers, Jobs, Education, Training

Carpenters cut, fit, and assemble wood and other materials for the construction of residential homes, office buildings, highways, bridges, docks, and boats. Other duties of carpenters may include estimating the cost of a job and supervising the work of helpers. Carpenters do some amazing things with their ingenuity and their hands. Once they think their work is complete, carpenters check the accuracy of their work and make any necessary adjustments. Carpenters have a great deal of satisfaction from seeing the finished product!

Carpenters directly employed by a general building contractor often must perform a variety of the tasks associated with new construction, such as framing walls and partitions, putting in doors and windows, building stairs, laying hardwood floors, and hanging kitchen cabinets.

Some carpenters employed outside the construction industry perform a variety of installation and maintenance work. They may replace panes of glass, ceiling tiles, and doors, as well as repair desks, cabinets, and other furniture. Depending on the employer, carpenters install partitions, doors, and windows, change locks, and repair broken furniture.

Carpenters, who make up the largest building trades occupation, held about 1.2 million jobs in 2002. One-third worked for general building contractors and one-fifth worked for special trade contractors. Most of the remaining carpenters worked for manufacturing firms, government agencies, retail establishments, and a wide variety of other industries. About 30 percent of all carpenters were self-employed. Carpenters are employed throughout the country in almost every community.

Job opportunities for carpenters are expected to be excellent through 2012 because construction activity should increase in response to demand for new buildings and the need to renovate and modernize existing structures.

Another reason for excellent job opportunities is due to the numerous openings arising each year as experienced carpenters leave this large occupation. You may wonder why some carpenters choose to leave their field. They leave because, over time, some carpenters prefer work that is less strenuous and has more comfortable working conditions.

It’s also important to note that carpenters can experience periods of unemployment because of the short-term nature of many construction projects. During economic downturns, the number of job openings for carpenters declines. While this occupation may seem attractive, especially if you like using your hands and doing work that is very physical, make sure to be realistic about your career choice, speak to people in the field and take the time to research you options.

A high school education is desirable, including courses in carpentry, shop, mechanical drawing, and general mathematics. Manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, physical fitness, and a good sense of balance are important. The ability to solve arithmetic problems quickly and accurately also is helpful.

There are many ways to enter this occupation and that’s good news! Carpenters learn their trade through on-the-job training, as well as formal training programs. Most pick up skills informally by working under the supervision of experienced workers. Many workers acquire skills through vocational education. Others participate in employer training programs or apprenticeships.

In 2002, the typical hourly earnings of carpenters were $16.44. The typical hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of carpenters in 2002 are shown below:

If you are interested in this occupation or are wondering about related occupations, use the links below to continue your exploration. Always remember, the more effort you put into exploring possible careers, the easier it will be for you to discover the best career choices for you!

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/.

O*NET OnLine, Occupational Information Network: http://online.onetcenter.org/.