Employment Readiness
How to Become a Trade Carpenter
If you’re someone who likes working with your hands and wants a job where you can actually see the results of your hard work, carpentry might be the perfect fit. A career in carpentry not only teaches valuable skills but can also lead to career growth and steady pay. But when you’re just starting out, it can be tough to know where to begin. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about getting started in a career as a trade carpenter.
What is a Trade Carpenter?
Carpenters are skilled tradespeople who build, repair, and install structures made from wood and other materials. You can find carpenters working on construction sites, workshops, or remodeling homes and businesses. Carpenters have a lot of versatility and can work in several industries depending on their skills and specialty. This career path offers solid, hands-on opportunities for individuals, and there are approximately 74,000 openings for carpenters each year.
What Does A Trade Carpenter Do?
Carpenters have a variety of tasks and can work both indoor or outdoor settings. Depending on the type of work they do, carpenters often specialize in a specific area of trade, such as:
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Formwork:
Builds the molds and frames that hold concrete in place for foundations and structures.
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Frame:
Construct the basic framework of walls, floors, and roofs in residential or commercial buildings.
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Stage:
Create and assemble sets for theaters, concerts, and live events.
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Ship:
Build, repair, and maintain boats, ships, and marine structures.
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Finish:
Focus on detailed work such as trim, molding, doors, and cabinetry.
Whether you’re drawn to hands-on construction or creative craftsmanship, there’s a carpentry path that matches your interests and skills.
Skills You Need to Be a Trade Carpenter
To get started as a carpenter, you’ll need a high school diploma (or equivalent) before entering an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship programs can last up to 3 to 4 years, but this is where you would get the much needed on-the-job training in carpentry basics. Once you finish your carpentry apprenticeship program, you will earn the title of journeyman carpenter. Besides learning how to use tools and wood to construct frameworks for building projects, there are other skills you’ll need to be successful in this career. You must be able to read and follow blueprints, pay attention to detail. Problem-solving skills are essential in inspecting and repairing damaged structures and fixtures. You also have to be in great physical condition because the job calls for a lot of standing, climbing and kneeling as well as lifting heavy materials. Strong hand-eye coordination and being able to use a variety of tools like chisels and saws are also great skills to have as a carpenter.
Where Trade Carpenters Work
A career in carpentry offers a wide range of opportunities to work in different industries. Those who specialize in residential work (which accounts for 23% of all those employed in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) can be found working on anything from new single-family homes to remodeling condominiums. Framing walls, building stairs, hanging cabinets and installing windows and doors are just some of the projects residential carpenters take on. You can also perform the same type of work in office buildings, schools, hospitals, and malls as a commercial carpenter. These skilled tradesmen can also be found in industrial settings taking on civil engineering projects such as tunnels, power plants, and bridges.
A Trade Carpenter's Work Life
No matter what project they’re working on, most carpenters work full time as well as put in overtime hours to meet project deadlines. Work sites can vary, from very cramped tunnels to sunny outdoors. While some carpenters work for a company, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 in 4 were self-employed in 2024. That means it’s possible to work for yourself and set your own work schedule, especially if you work in the residential sector.
Job Outlook
As for getting work as a carpenter, the job outlook for this field looks very good. Between the growth of new-home construction and the repair of roads, bridges and other existing infrastructure, the need for these tradesmen will continue to grow. An average of 74,100 job openings for carpenters is projected each year over the next decade. Many of these openings will arise from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or leave the workforce, such as through retirement.
How to Get Hired as a Trade Carpenter
Finding the right trade carpentry job can feel frustrating when you’re not sure where to start, what skills you need, or which employers will actually pay what you’re worth. That’s where Labor Finders makes things easier. Instead of searching on your own, we connect you with real employers who need your skills right now.
Whether you’re brand new to the trade or trying to level up into better-paying, more specialized roles, we help you figure out what fits your experience, your goals, and your schedule. With more than 50 years of experience supporting tradespeople, we’re here to remove the guesswork, open doors, and help you start building the career you want.
