Carpenters graduates pursue 1 occupations, with top roles paying $79,920/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.
Carpenters is a focused area of study within Construction. The program is available at 268 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 4,214 students complete this program each year, most earning a certificate. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.
Colleges Offering
268
Graduates / Year
4,214
Avg Net Price / yr
$11,953
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 4,214 students who complete Carpenters programs each year, the majority (70%) earn a certificate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
70%25%
Certificate70%
Associate's25%
Doctorate5%
What Can You Do With a Carpenters Degree?
Carpenters connects to 1 occupations in the job market. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers leads at $79,920/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
Read specifications, such as blueprints, to determine construction requirements or to plan procedures.
Supervise, coordinate, or schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers.
Top Colleges for Carpenters
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Carpenters students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
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The data on Carpenters shows 2 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +5.3% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 74,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Licensure often requiredMany positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.
Carpenters Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can you get with a Carpenters degree?
Carpenters degree holders pursue careers including First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, which pays a median of $79,920/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Carpenters program take?
Most Carpenters certificate programs take one to two years of full-time study. Some are available in as little as one semester at community colleges.
How many colleges offer Carpenters?
268 colleges and universities in the United States offer Carpenters programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
What is the difference between Carpenters and Construction?
Carpenters is a focused concentration within the broader Construction field. The Construction major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Carpenters-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Carpenters graduates?
Employers hiring Carpenters graduates consistently prioritize technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
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Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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