Carpenter
Build and repair structures from residential homes to commercial buildings
About the profession
Carpenters build, install, and repair structures and fixtures made of wood and other materials. From framing houses to installing cabinets to building formwork for concrete, carpentry is one of the most versatile building trades. Skilled carpenters are in constant demand, and the path to general contracting offers significant business ownership opportunities.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if Carpenter fits your profile
Career Match Test โExplore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
Jump to Career Path โStart learning โ check the Learning Path for free courses
Jump to Learning Path โPersonality Fit
Based on the Carpenter role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Realistic
Hands-on, practical, technical work
Artistic
Creative, expressive, original thinking
Enterprising
Leading, persuading, business
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (12-15 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Apprentice Carpenter โ Journeyman Carpenter โ Master Carpenter โ Construction Foreman โ General Contractor
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
5
Levels
130K
Top Salary
18+ years+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
๐
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-3 years | Entry Base: $30,000 - $38,000/year Timeline: 3-7 years | Growing Base: $38,000 - $50,000/year Timeline: 7-12 years | Expert Base: $50,000 - $65,000/yearโฆ
Skills used in this career
Click any skill to see how to learn it and what salary boost it gives
Learning Path 0 โ Junior
Step-by-step plan from zero to first job
Enroll in carpentry apprenticeship or vocational program Learn basic hand and power tool operation Develop blueprint reading and measurement skills Complete journeymanโฆ
Market 2026โ2030
Trends, AI impact, prospects
Growth Rate: Average through 2030 Remote Trend: Primarily on-site, physical construction work Top Industries: Residential construction, commercial building, renovation, customโฆ
๐ฐ Salary Range
BLS OEWS, May 2023Half of U.S. workers in this occupation earn more than this, half earn less.
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Create Free AccountPersonality types that fit this career
Based on career-match data from our Result Library:
The % is JobCannonโs editorial fit rating (0-100) for how well a result suits this career โ not a statistical prediction. How we rate each testโs validity โ
๐ฏ Is Carpenter right for you?
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Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types