← All career paths
Trades & Construction
How to become a Carpenter
From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.
- Time to get there
- 2–4 years
- Typical pay
- $44k–$62k
- Starting from
- No experience
Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.
See carpenter jobs open nowThe route
Start as a labourer or helper
Framing crews hire with no experience and teach on site.
Course that covers thisWoodworking & Carpentry Masterclass: Beginner To AdvancedUdemy · around $19.99Learn to read plans
The difference between carrying material and running a section.
Course that covers thisBlueprint Reading for Welders Basic Lines, Views and SymbolsUdemy · around $49.99Get OSHA 10
Required on most commercial sites before you set foot on them.
Course that covers thisOSHA 30-Hour Construction Practice Test 2026Udemy · around $19.99OSHA 10
Work toward journeyman
Formal apprenticeships run about four years; many carpenters move up informally.
- Browse jobs now
Destination
Carpenter
Course links are Udemy affiliate links. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.