What is a Construction Carpenter?
Occupation Description Construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, using carpenter’s hand tools and power tools.
Daily Life Of a Construction Carpenter
- Construct forms or chutes for pouring concrete.
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Maintain records, document actions, and present written progress reports.
- Fill cracks or other defects in plaster or plasterboard and sand patch, using patching plaster, trowel, and sanding tool.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Construction Carpenter?
When polled, Construction Carpenters say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles
- Boat Carpenter
- Composition Weatherboard Applier
- Wood Floor Layer
- Floor Coverer Apprentice
- Garage Door Installer
Construction Carpenter Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 1,025,600 jobs for Construction Carpenter in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 83,800 new jobs for Construction Carpenter by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 104,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Construction Carpenter are Utah, Colorado, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Mexico, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Construction Carpenter Average Salary
Construction Carpenters make between $28,860 and $82,750 a year.

Construction Carpenters who work in Hawaii, Illinois, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Construction Carpenters in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $40,310 |
Alaska | $66,240 |
Arizona | $43,460 |
Arkansas | $36,390 |
California | $59,860 |
Colorado | $47,640 |
Connecticut | $57,910 |
Delaware | $49,960 |
District of Columbia | $53,470 |
Florida | $40,660 |
Georgia | $45,850 |
Hawaii | $73,070 |
Idaho | $38,760 |
Illinois | $66,280 |
Indiana | $47,970 |
Iowa | $42,660 |
Kansas | $43,300 |
Kentucky | $47,320 |
Louisiana | $45,910 |
Maine | $42,230 |
Maryland | $48,870 |
Massachusetts | $60,970 |
Michigan | $47,740 |
Minnesota | $52,610 |
Mississippi | $37,740 |
Missouri | $55,220 |
Montana | $42,480 |
Nebraska | $39,080 |
Nevada | $53,140 |
New Hampshire | $47,150 |
New Jersey | $63,230 |
New Mexico | $39,430 |
New York | $62,880 |
North Carolina | $37,180 |
North Dakota | $42,850 |
Ohio | $47,940 |
Oklahoma | $42,990 |
Oregon | $48,680 |
Pennsylvania | $53,450 |
Rhode Island | $51,090 |
South Carolina | $44,490 |
South Dakota | $36,340 |
Tennessee | $39,620 |
Texas | $40,370 |
Utah | $42,160 |
Vermont | $44,590 |
Virginia | $43,750 |
Washington | $60,800 |
West Virginia | $43,570 |
Wisconsin | $50,760 |
Wyoming | $48,750 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Construction Carpenters
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Construction Carpenters:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Intuit Quicken
- Estimating software
- Drawing and drafting software
- Job costing software
- Craftsman CD Estimator
- Wilhelm Publishing Threshold
- Web page creation and editing software
- Bosch Punch List
- VirtualBoss
Becoming a Construction Carpenter
Education needed to be a Construction Carpenter:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Construction Carpenter?

Where Construction Carpenters Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Construction Carpenters employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James Seward via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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