Carpenters
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Carpenters: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall and batt or roll insulation. Include brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways to control the proper circulation of air through the passageways and to the working places.
Carpenters are employed throughout the country in almost every community and make up the largest building trades occupation. They held about 1.3 million jobs in 2004. About one-third worked in building construction and about one-fifth worked for special trade contractors. Most of the rest of the wage and salary workers worked for manufacturing firms, government agencies, retail establishments and a wide variety of other industries. About one-third of all carpenters were self-employed.
In May 2004, median hourly earnings of carpenters were $16.78. The middle 50 percent earned between $12.91 and $22.62. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.36, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $28.65. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of carpenters in May 2004 were as follows:
| Nonresidential building construction | $18.70 |
| Building finishing contractors | 17.51 |
| Residential building construction | 16.48 |
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 16.40 |
| Employment services | 13.94 |
Earnings can be reduced on occasion, because carpenters lose worktime in bad weather and during recessions when jobs are unavailable.
Some carpenters are members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Carpenters)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Carpenters | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 320 mean earnings: $37,610 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,480 | $27,460 | $37,640 | $44,230 | $57,890 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 160 mean earnings: $40,650 | $20,800 | $30,070 | $39,750 | $50,320 | $65,060 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 160 mean earnings: $34,510 | $22,000 | $26,250 | $33,950 | $42,230 | $47,390 |
| Utilities employment: 230 mean earnings: $48,420 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,830 | $30,140 | $53,520 | $63,810 | $69,730 |
| Utilities employment: 230 mean earnings: $48,420 | $20,830 | $30,140 | $53,520 | $63,810 | $69,730 |
| Construction employment: 773,220 mean earnings: $39,270 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,510 | $27,920 | $36,070 | $48,920 | $61,770 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 433,470 mean earnings: $39,140 | $22,840 | $28,240 | $36,210 | $48,270 | $60,660 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 28,810 mean earnings: $41,510 | $23,240 | $28,890 | $38,090 | $53,070 | $66,790 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 310,940 mean earnings: $39,240 | $21,950 | $27,410 | $35,700 | $49,440 | $62,570 |
| Manufacturing employment: 54,790 mean earnings: $33,110 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,390 | $23,930 | $30,330 | $39,600 | $52,790 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 110 mean earnings: $34,600 | $23,710 | $26,620 | $32,210 | $39,020 | $50,930 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 40 mean earnings: $33,970 | $16,270 | $20,540 | $33,010 | $47,220 | $54,830 |
| Textile Mills employment: 40 mean earnings: $30,180 | $23,830 | $25,590 | $28,550 | $34,680 | $41,430 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 140 mean earnings: $34,830 | $20,310 | $24,580 | $35,090 | $42,190 | $51,650 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 24,740 mean earnings: $30,910 | $18,590 | $22,670 | $28,230 | $36,070 | $47,160 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 80 mean earnings: $41,120 | $25,800 | $30,960 | $41,170 | $52,160 | $56,630 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,950 | $20,340 | $23,800 | $29,340 | $35,350 | $41,810 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $47,700 | $25,840 | $33,860 | $50,190 | $58,460 | $68,820 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 320 mean earnings: $39,710 | $23,420 | $27,480 | $38,460 | $50,330 | $57,720 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 380 mean earnings: $31,350 | $19,390 | $23,210 | $29,120 | $36,260 | $45,050 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 1,940 mean earnings: $30,690 | $19,170 | $23,580 | $28,480 | $35,180 | $45,500 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 240 mean earnings: $39,060 | $24,610 | $30,500 | $37,630 | $46,490 | $56,190 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 1,000 mean earnings: $34,760 | $20,070 | $25,860 | $32,820 | $42,110 | $54,660 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 390 mean earnings: $31,780 | $19,310 | $21,940 | $29,430 | $40,170 | $50,330 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $44,740 | $26,260 | $35,330 | $44,860 | $55,250 | $63,650 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 40 mean earnings: $34,250 | $17,370 | $25,740 | $34,790 | $43,190 | $50,660 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 8,870 mean earnings: $35,680 | $21,440 | $26,120 | $32,850 | $42,540 | $58,540 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 15,450 mean earnings: $34,760 | $19,840 | $24,660 | $31,790 | $42,190 | $55,840 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 700 mean earnings: $38,160 | $21,170 | $25,810 | $35,000 | $45,550 | $61,700 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 5,110 mean earnings: $37,200 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,110 | $25,780 | $33,710 | $45,300 | $61,040 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 4,590 mean earnings: $37,410 | $20,220 | $25,800 | $33,700 | $45,410 | $62,210 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 140 mean earnings: $35,070 | $17,380 | $25,020 | $36,700 | $44,510 | $52,360 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 390 mean earnings: $35,480 | $18,540 | $25,800 | $33,070 | $44,530 | $56,070 |
| Retail Trade employment: 13,970 mean earnings: $34,530 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,370 | $24,100 | $31,060 | $41,490 | $56,260 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 50 mean earnings: $40,630 | $26,050 | $33,650 | $40,460 | $47,120 | $54,550 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 2,710 mean earnings: $35,380 | $19,670 | $23,970 | $31,840 | $42,740 | $61,600 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 9,630 mean earnings: $34,460 | $19,250 | $24,020 | $30,940 | $41,500 | $55,600 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 30 mean earnings: $36,650 | $19,730 | $21,830 | $37,450 | $48,040 | $55,540 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 110 mean earnings: $51,140 | $28,890 | $40,440 | $52,380 | $64,250 | $70,570 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 1,160 mean earnings: $29,600 | $18,380 | $23,770 | $28,750 | $34,820 | $42,340 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 40 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 1,350 mean earnings: $41,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,740 | $33,570 | $40,970 | $48,250 | $59,670 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 690 mean earnings: $41,690 | $30,150 | $37,150 | $41,040 | $44,910 | $55,940 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 120 mean earnings: $51,710 | $25,890 | $41,790 | $51,880 | $65,160 | $74,690 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation employment: 30 mean earnings: $39,740 | $24,940 | $27,570 | $34,930 | $49,240 | $65,110 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 280 mean earnings: $34,720 | $13,990 | $24,990 | $33,260 | $43,790 | $56,450 |
| Postal Service employment: 90 mean earnings: $49,400 | $44,720 | $46,710 | $50,040 | $53,360 | $55,350 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: n.a. mean earnings: $39,970 | $28,260 | $31,220 | $35,470 | $50,070 | $56,920 |
| Information employment: 360 mean earnings: $53,270 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,570 | $37,080 | $48,270 | $66,420 | $82,630 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 70 mean earnings: $44,770 | $27,750 | $35,700 | $43,490 | $53,040 | $65,600 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 250 mean earnings: $53,340 | $25,370 | $37,620 | $53,450 | $68,730 | $84,500 |
| Telecommunications employment: 30 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 550 mean earnings: $26,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,840 | $15,960 | $17,840 | $34,870 | $44,070 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $22,980 | $14,740 | $15,730 | $17,370 | $28,050 | $40,330 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 40 mean earnings: $41,010 | $21,560 | $26,600 | $35,380 | $56,000 | $70,210 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 7,170 mean earnings: $40,390 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,120 | $28,510 | $36,640 | $49,770 | $65,380 |
| Real Estate employment: 5,640 mean earnings: $40,870 | $23,020 | $28,410 | $36,490 | $51,310 | $67,430 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 1,530 mean earnings: $38,630 | $23,450 | $28,820 | $37,100 | $44,640 | $56,560 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 3,500 mean earnings: $42,930 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,420 | $30,040 | $42,230 | $54,600 | $65,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 3,500 mean earnings: $42,930 | $22,420 | $30,040 | $42,230 | $54,600 | $65,710 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 1,690 mean earnings: $36,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,750 | $25,550 | $32,980 | $43,820 | $60,300 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 1,690 mean earnings: $36,690 | $20,750 | $25,550 | $32,980 | $43,820 | $60,300 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 37,240 mean earnings: $35,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,890 | $24,350 | $33,400 | $44,560 | $55,920 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 36,620 mean earnings: $35,270 | $18,840 | $24,250 | $33,330 | $44,470 | $55,820 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 620 mean earnings: $40,370 | $23,890 | $29,360 | $37,660 | $50,820 | $62,320 |
| Educational Services employment: 11,370 mean earnings: $38,260 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,710 | $28,510 | $35,540 | $45,670 | $58,250 |
| Educational Services employment: 11,370 mean earnings: $38,260 | $23,710 | $28,510 | $35,540 | $45,670 | $58,250 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 4,390 mean earnings: $42,430 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,000 | $32,040 | $41,330 | $52,160 | $63,860 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $41,970 | $29,370 | $37,610 | $42,270 | $47,680 | $55,100 |
| Hospitals employment: 3,400 mean earnings: $44,270 | $27,290 | $33,650 | $42,740 | $54,280 | $65,930 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 150 mean earnings: $31,340 | $16,720 | $22,640 | $29,610 | $38,820 | $45,980 |
| Social Assistance employment: 350 mean earnings: $29,830 | $17,670 | $20,990 | $26,290 | $34,440 | $48,410 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 4,560 mean earnings: $40,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,930 | $28,380 | $37,070 | $49,330 | $65,580 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 2,500 mean earnings: $43,820 | $23,230 | $29,560 | $40,360 | $57,520 | $70,150 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 290 mean earnings: $41,100 | $24,810 | $29,450 | $37,930 | $49,470 | $66,290 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 1,780 mean earnings: $34,840 | $19,890 | $26,660 | $34,220 | $42,290 | $51,170 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 1,000 mean earnings: $42,110 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,460 | $32,350 | $42,300 | $51,400 | $57,130 |
| Accommodation employment: 890 mean earnings: $43,290 | $26,500 | $34,030 | $43,780 | $52,250 | $57,540 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 100 mean earnings: $31,980 | $21,310 | $25,650 | $31,310 | $36,550 | $44,250 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 1,670 mean earnings: $33,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,750 | $21,520 | $34,700 | $42,570 | $52,160 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 830 mean earnings: $35,120 | $20,120 | $25,370 | $36,220 | $42,600 | $49,880 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 560 mean earnings: $36,800 | $16,610 | $23,980 | $37,610 | $46,160 | $58,790 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 13,390 mean earnings: $41,690 (def) (IG) | $25,130 | $31,490 | $40,840 | $51,220 | $60,790 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 13,390 mean earnings: $41,690 | $25,130 | $31,490 | $40,840 | $51,220 | $60,790 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.