Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Carpenter

Build, install, and repair structures made of wood and other materials — framing, cabinets, trim work.

$56,350/yr median

$33,870$88,940

AverageHeavyUnion: ModerateEntry: Low

Training Path

3-4 year apprenticeship

Environment

Indoor/Outdoor

Outlook

Average (+3%)

BLS Code

47-2031

Pros

✓One of the most versatile trades — carpenters can work in framing, finish work, cabinetry, concrete forming, scaffolding, and more.
✓Lower barriers to entry compared to licensed trades — you can start gaining experience on job sites relatively quickly.
✓Strong potential for self-employment — many carpenters eventually start their own remodeling or specialty contracting businesses.
✓Tangible results — you build things people live and work in, and there is real satisfaction in seeing a project go from bare ground to finished building.
✓Skills transfer directly to personal projects — carpenters can renovate their own homes, build furniture, and handle repairs that would cost others thousands.

Cons

✗Physically demanding work that is hard on your body over decades — back injuries, knee problems, and repetitive strain injuries are common.
✗Weather exposure is significant for rough carpenters — framing crews work through heat, cold, rain, and wind on open job sites.
✗The work can be feast-or-famine, especially in residential construction, where housing market slowdowns directly impact employment.
✗Starting wages for carpenter helpers are relatively low, and it takes years of experience to command top pay.
✗Injury rates are higher than average due to power tool use, falls from height, and heavy lifting.
✗Non-union carpentry jobs often come with minimal benefits — no pension, basic health insurance, and limited paid time off.

What the Life Is Like

Carpenters typically start work at 7 AM on the job site. Rough carpenters (framers) work outdoors in all weather, building the structural skeleton of buildings — walls, floors, roofs. It is fast-paced, physically intense work done in crews of 3-8 people. Finish carpenters work indoors, installing trim, doors, cabinets, and stairs with much more precision. The pace is slower but the attention to detail is higher. Commercial carpenters may specialize in concrete formwork, metal stud framing, or acoustical ceiling installation.

A typical week is 40 hours, Monday through Friday, though overtime is common when projects are behind schedule. Travel between job sites is normal, especially in residential work. Carpentry crews tend to have strong camaraderie — you rely on each other for safety and efficiency. The culture values hard work, speed, and skill, and there is a clear hierarchy from helper to apprentice to journeyman.

The physical reality of carpentry is demanding. Framers regularly lift lumber, plywood sheets, and heavy beam stock. You will swing a hammer, operate nail guns, run circular saws, and climb ladders and scaffolding daily. Over a career, the cumulative strain is significant. Many experienced carpenters eventually move toward finish work, estimating, project management, or teaching to reduce the physical toll.

How to Get Started

Start as a carpenter's helper or laborer

Carpentry is one of the trades where you can start working with minimal formal training. Many carpenters begin by getting hired as a helper on a framing or remodeling crew. You will carry materials, clean up, and gradually learn to use tools and read plans.

Apply for a formal apprenticeship

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) offer structured apprenticeship programs lasting 3-4 years. These combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction in blueprint reading, math, safety, and building codes.

Consider trade school for specialized skills

Community college programs in construction technology or cabinetmaking can give you an edge, especially if you want to focus on finish carpentry or cabinet work. These programs typically last 1-2 years.

Get OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 safety certification

Many employers require or prefer the OSHA 10-hour construction safety course. It is inexpensive, can be completed online, and shows employers you take safety seriously. The 30-hour course is even better for advancement.

Build experience and specialize

After a few years of general carpentry experience, consider specializing in an area that interests you — finish carpentry, concrete formwork, scaffold erection, or commercial tenant improvement. Specialization often leads to higher pay and more consistent work.

Advance into supervision or self-employment

With 5-10 years of experience, you can move into foreman or superintendent roles, or get your contractor's license and start your own business. Self-employed carpenters who handle their own sales and project management can earn significantly more than employees.

Felony Record & Licensing

Generally Accessible

No individual license required in most states. Union apprenticeships are often reentry-friendly.

Carpenter is one of the more accessible trades for people rebuilding after a conviction.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026