Career Overview
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.
Also Known As
- Cabinet Maker
- Carpenter
- Form Carpenter
- Scaffold Builder
Alternate Job Titles
- Aluminum Siding Applicator
- Aluminum Siding Installer
- Aluminum Siding Mechanic
- Amusement and Recreational Prop Maker
- Asbestos Siding Mechanic
- Assembled Wood Products Repairer
- Beam Builder
- Boat Builder
- Boat Carpenter
- Boat Carpenter Mechanic
- Boat Finisher
- Boat Joiner
- Boat Repairer
- Boatwright
- Bowling Alley Floors Installer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Inspect ceiling or floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass, or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Use drones for site surveying and to inspect hard-to-reach areas of a structure.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Visualization
- Problem Sensitivity
- Finger Dexterity
- Manual Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Trunk Strength
- Information Ordering
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Deductive Reasoning
- Far Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Perseverance
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- A-frame levels
- Air compressors
- Auger bits
- Baluster jigs
- Band saws
- Bandsaws
- Beam saws
- Beam-lifting jacks
- Belt sanders
- Biscuit joiners
- Brad tackers
- Bubble levels
- Bullseye levels
- Calibrating electronic levels
- Calipers
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Standing
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $38,760 |
| Median | $59,310 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $98,370 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 697,740
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $58,140
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $62,700
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $60,800
Sheet Metal Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $60,850
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,900
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.