Featured Career in Construction: Carpenter #CTEMonth

When one hears the term home construction industry, one of the trades that tends to come to mind first is the carpenter.
If you like working with wood and take pride in seeing something made with your own hands, then this is the trade for you.
Carpenters are needed in all areas of construction and are often employed through the entire construction process. Thus, it is one of the most secure jobs within the industry.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 2020 national average wage for carpenters was $54,200/year. Despite slower than average expected growth compared to other home construction industry jobs (projected growth is 2 percent from 2020 to 2030), about 89,300 openings for carpenters are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

At any given time (including right now in February  2022), several Door County Home Builders Association (DCHBA) Builder members are looking to add carpenters to their teams.

In the carpentry trade you will learn to:
  • Frame floors, walls, ceilings and roofs
  • Build concrete forms
  • Apply plywood, roof paper and shingles
  • Build and set cabinets and countertops
  • Install doors, windows, trim and siding
  • Install floor joists, rafters and trusses
  • Lay wood flooring
  • Operate table saws, power drills, routers, joiners, planers and nail guns
The minimum requirement to become a carpenter is a high school diploma. Training options can include apprenticeships that offer valuable on-the-job training or technical school diploma or certificate programs. Consult a potential employer’s job posting for company specific requirements.