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Helpers–Carpenters: Job Description
Help carpenters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
What Do Helpers–Carpenters Perform?
Typical responsibilities of helpers–carpenters span:
- Clean work areas, machines, or equipment, to maintain a clean and safe job site.
- Fasten timbers or lumber with glue, screws, pegs, or nails and install hardware.
- Perform tie spacing layout and measure, mark, drill or cut.
- Select tools, equipment, or materials from storage and transport items to work site.
- Drill holes in timbers or lumber.
- Cut timbers, lumber, or paneling to specified dimensions.
- Position and hold timbers, lumber, or paneling in place for fastening or cutting.
- Align, straighten, plumb, or square forms for installation.
What Helpers–Carpenters Need to Know
Successful helpers–carpenters combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Beam Builder Helper
- Building Carpenter Helper
- Cabinetmaker Helper
- Carpenter Assistant
- Carpenter Helper
- Carpenter Mate
- Carpenter's Helper
- Construction Carpenter's Helper
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 321,022 helpers–carpenters working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -3.5% over the projection horizon.
Helpers–Carpenters Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,288 |
| Hourly median | $25.14 |
| 10th percentile | $31,678 |
| 25th percentile | $41,983 |
| 75th percentile | $62,593 |
| 90th percentile | $72,898 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Helpers–Carpenters Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $49,990 |
| District of Columbia | $48,890 |
| Oregon | $47,020 |
| Washington | $47,010 |
| Connecticut | $46,090 |
| California | $45,760 |
| Rhode Island | $45,760 |
| Colorado | $44,880 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 |
| Virginia | $43,560 |
| Maine | $43,470 |
| Georgia | $43,210 |
| Utah | $43,090 |
| Ohio | $42,920 |
| Michigan | $42,870 |
| Florida | $42,740 |
| North Carolina | $42,320 |
| New Jersey | $41,600 |
| Montana | $41,600 |
| Kansas | $40,960 |
| New York | $40,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,690 |
| Hawaii | $40,550 |
| Idaho | $40,550 |
| Arizona | $40,500 |
| Tennessee | $40,210 |
| Vermont | $40,040 |
| Texas | $39,930 |
| Indiana | $39,760 |
| Maryland | $38,980 |
| Louisiana | $38,580 |
| Nebraska | $38,350 |
| Wisconsin | $38,220 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| Mississippi | $37,380 |
| Illinois | $36,650 |
| South Carolina | $36,460 |
| New Mexico | $36,240 |
| Alabama | $36,170 |
| West Virginia | $36,020 |
| Massachusetts | $35,870 |
| Oklahoma | $35,260 |
| Nevada | $35,210 |
| Kentucky | $33,610 |
| Delaware | $32,610 |
| South Dakota | $30,790 |
| Iowa | $27,830 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,060 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for helpers–carpenters differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $45,276 | 19.6% | 1.32 |
| New England | $44,488 | 1.5% | 2.36 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,845 | 6.7% | 2.41 |
| Southeast | $41,582 | 35.2% | 1.60 |
| Great Lakes | $40,439 | 6.7% | 0.43 |
| Southwest | $39,935 | 13.1% | 0.99 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,799 | 9.1% | 1.10 |
| Plains States | $34,092 | 3.1% | 3.96 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $60,860 | 30 |
| Bend, OR | OR | $58,070 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $56,720 | |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $49,920 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $49,150 | 140 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | FL | $48,260 | 100 |
| Reno, NV | NV | $47,610 | 70 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | FL | $47,410 | 380 |
Top Industries Employing Helpers–Carpenters
The largest employers of helpers–carpenters are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 21,790 | $41,600 |
| Manufacturing | 730 | $37,030 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 710 | $42,940 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 260 | $37,030 |
| Retail Trade | 240 | $44,310 |
| Information | 240 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 50 | $28,060 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 50 | $29,640 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for helpers–carpenters reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How to Become Helpers–Carpenters
Entry-level helpers–carpenters positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Supplemental)
- Carpenters (Primary-Long)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Supplemental)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (Supplemental)
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons (Supplemental)
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers (Supplemental)
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-3012.00 (Helpers–Carpenters).
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