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Carpenters

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.

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About Carpenters

This page covers Carpenters as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Construction and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Carpenters is a focused area of study within Construction. You will not have trouble finding it: 268 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 4,214 students complete it each year, most walking away with 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%

Certificate 70%

Associate's 25%

Doctorate 5%

What Can You Do With a Carpenters Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Carpenters graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay the most at $79,920/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +5.0% Zone 3: Medium preparation

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

$79,920

$63K $101K 25th–75th pct.

High school diploma or equivalent 67,000 openings/yr 812K employed nationally

Coordination Active Listening Speaking Monitoring Time Management

Day-to-day responsibilities

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

Not sure where to study Carpenters? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Ivy Tech Community College, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Public	497	Open	$7,258	$37,186
2	Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA · Public	195	Open	$13,970	$39,449
3	Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA · Public	38	Open	$12,323	$35,233
4	Centura College-Norfolk Norfolk, VA · For-Profit	34	Open	$31,032	$25,930
5	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA · Public	31	71.2%	$14,104	$54,681
6	Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee Muskogee, OK · Public	27	Open	$4,895	$33,208
7	Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Public	25	Open	$10,272	$49,460
8	Hinds Community College Raymond, MS · Public	24	Open	$4,060	$30,774
9	Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA · Public	23	Open	$9,328	$42,046
10	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS · Public	23	Open	$8,805	$38,679
11	Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS · Public	22	Open	$16,744	$40,795
12	San Juan College Farmington, NM · Public	21	Open	$5,769	$36,513
13	Fort Hays Tech North Central Beloit, KS · Public	21	Open	$12,393	$46,928
14	Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public	20	Open	$14,238	$45,413
15	Hawaii Community College Hilo, HI · Public	19	Open	$8,942	$34,891
16	Laney College Oakland, CA · Public	18	Open	$17,110	$37,282
17	Mohawk Valley Community College Utica, NY · Public	18	Open	$8,987	$39,850
18	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY · Public	18	89%	$17,225	$51,629
19	Lake Superior College Duluth, MN · Public	18	Open	$15,492	$46,449
20	Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY · Public	17	Open	$6,113	$36,343

View all colleges

Ranked by Carpenters graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Carpenters program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Carpenters degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Carpenters Degree: Pros & Cons

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 outlook Related careers project up to +5.0% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 67,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Licensure often required Many 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?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers are one path, and it pays a median of $79,920 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Carpenters program take?

One to two years of full-time study for most Carpenters certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.

How many colleges offer Carpenters?

268 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

What is the difference between Carpenters and Construction?

Carpenters is the narrower of the two: Construction covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Carpenters-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Carpenters graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Carpenters graduates consistently look for 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. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.