by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Carpentry/Carpenter explores Carpentry/carpenter. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Lay Out, Cut, Fabricate, Erect, Install, And Repair Wooden Structures And Fixtures, Using Hand And Power Tools. Includes Instruction In Technical Mathematics, Framing, Construction Materials And Selection, Job Estimating, Blueprint Reading, Foundations And Roughing-In, Finish Carpentry Techniques, And Applicable Codes And Standards. Examples: [General Carpenter]. Read on to learn the key facts every carpentry/carpenter student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering carpentry/carpenter programs.
Nationwide, carpentry/carpenter draws strong interest, with 5,356 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Carpentry/Carpenter Schools ranking analyzes these 215 schools to determine the best overall colleges for carpentry/carpenter students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of carpentry/carpenter programs later in this article.
Coursework for Carpentry/Carpenter build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations carpentry/carpenter graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a carpentry/carpenter program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a carpentry/carpenter major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several carpentry/carpenter degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,195 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 530 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,379 |
People currently working in careers related to carpentry/carpenter tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 41.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 19.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.7% |
| Some college courses | 8.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in carpentry/carpenter careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying carpentry/carpenter prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to carpentry/carpenter.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to carpentry/carpenter.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenters | 696,226 | 4.2% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of carpentry/carpenter graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,838 |
| 4 years | $37,146 |
| 5 years | $38,914 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for carpentry/carpenter graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers carpentry/carpenter grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Carpenters | $42,458 |
With 215 different carpentry/carpenter programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased carpentry/carpenter school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
