Apprenticeship

Carpenter Apprenticeships

What a carpenter apprenticeship pays, how long it runs, what the application requires, and what the licence at the end lets you do.

Length: 3–4 years
Tuition: None
Journeyman median: $56,350/yr

Carpentry spans rough framing, formwork, interior finish, cabinetry and specialty millwork. It is the broadest of the construction trades and the most common entry point for people who want to eventually run their own remodeling business. Most states do not license carpenters directly, but they do license the general contractor who signs the permit.

Year one pay: $25,358; About 45% of journeyman scale
Journeyman median: $56,350; $27.09 per hour
Tuition debt: $0; You are paid to train

What you earn at each step

Apprentice wages are set as a percentage of journeyman scale and step up on a published schedule as you accumulate hours and classroom credits. The figures below apply the typical step schedule to the national median — your local’s wage sheet is the authoritative number.

Step	Share of scale	Approximate hourly	Approximate annual
Year 1	45%	$12.19	$25,358
Year 2	55%	$14.90	$30,993
Year 3	68%	$18.42	$38,318
Year 4	82%	$22.21	$46,207
Journeyman	100%	$27.09	$56,350

What the application requires

Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Training route: 3–4 year apprenticeship, or on-the-job progression from laborer
Age: 18 or over. Registered programmes cannot set a maximum age.
Mathematics: One year of high school algebra with a passing grade. This is the most common reason applications stall, and one semester at a community college clears it.
Aptitude test: Most programmes test algebra and reading comprehension, with some mechanical and spatial reasoning. Free practice material is widely available; preparing genuinely moves your ranking.
Physical: Constant lifting, climbing and repetitive motion. Framing is weather-exposed and hard on the body; finish work is lighter but demands precision and patience.
Licensing outcome: Generally unlicensed as a trade. A general contractor license is required in most states to contract work directly.

Where to find programmes

Search the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Finder at apprenticeship.gov, then contact the union local, the ABC or IEC chapter, and licensed contractors in your area directly. Apply to all three routes in the same cycle — they have different intake calendars and different selection criteria.

Where it leads

After licensing, pay diverges by specialization far more than by years served. These are the paths most carpenters choose between.

Rough framing
Concrete formwork
Finish and trim carpentry
Cabinetmaking and millwork
Stair building
Commercial interior systems
Timber framing
Restoration carpentry

Common questions

How much do carpenter apprentices make?

Apprentices typically start near 45 percent of journeyman scale and step up on a published schedule. Against a national journeyman median of $56,350, that is roughly $25,358 in year one, rising to around $46,207 by the final year. Local scale varies substantially.

How long is a carpenter apprenticeship?

3–4 years. The hours, not the calendar, are what qualify you to sit the licence exam, so working consistently matters more than time elapsed.

What do I need to apply?

High school diploma or equivalent is the baseline, plus being 18 or over, a valid driver's licence, reliable transportation, and one year of high school algebra with a passing grade. Most programmes also require passing an aptitude test, an interview, and a drug screen.

What licence does this lead to?

Generally unlicensed as a trade. A general contractor license is required in most states to contract work directly.

Licensing authority by state

Apprenticeship hours are portable, but licensing is not. Confirm the requirements with the board in the state where you intend to work before you start accumulating hours somewhere else.

Arizona
California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin