Career Highlight: Carpenter
By Belinda Elliot
Carpenters work indoors and outdoors on many types of construction projects, from building highways and bridges to installing kitchen cabinets. It is a great profession for people who enjoy working their hands, tend to be detail oriented, and enjoy using math and problem solving skills.
Bright Outlook
The field is expected to grow 7% to 10% by 2028, which is faster than average for other occupations.
Population growth is expected to result in more new-home construction—one of the largest segment employing carpenters—which will require many new workers. The construction of factories and power plants is also expected to result in some new job opportunities in the next ten years.
Required Training
Carpenters typically gain their skills through apprenticeship programs. Carpentry apprenticeship programs typically require some form of basic education to enter, often a high school diploma or equivalent.
Apprenticeships are offered by many employers, unions, and contractor associations and may be sponsored and monitored by the U.S. government. The United States Department of Labor has an office that registers apprenticeships. Registered apprenticeships allow individuals to learn valuable job skills. Apprentice carpenters get hands-on training while earning a paycheck. Programs are typically 3-4 years in length.
Potential Earnings: $43,000-$48,000
The U.S. average yearly wages for carpenters is $48,330. In Virginia, carpenters on average earn$43,120. In the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area, carpenters earn an average of $44,180.
Success Story
Anne Lassere pursued college after graduation, but soon decided it was not a good fit for her. After researching other options, she found a carpentry apprenticeship program that would pay her — instead of leaving her in debt— for the four years of education she required.
Now she is an in-demand carpenter and Class B Licensed Contractor working in Charlottesville, Virginia. She said at one point in her career she had to take down her website because she was staying too busy to take on additional work.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Carpenters
https://www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm
OnetOnline
https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/47-2031.00
Study.com
https://study.com/articles/How_to_Become_an_Apprentice_Carpenter.html