Carpenters build and repair structures such as walls, floors, roofs, and cabinets. They may also install doors and windows or create staircases. They use woodworking machines and hand tools to shape and cut materials, and they often must read blueprints to determine dimensions and specifications. Other job duties include ensuring that all work meets safety regulations and maintaining tools and equipment.
Some carpenters are self-employed, while others work for construction companies or as part of a larger crew on commercial or residential projects. Some have completed formal training programs in the form of apprenticeships, certificate courses, or high school classes that lead to an industry-recognized diploma. These programs usually require several years of on-the-job training and classroom studies. Some unions offer pre-apprenticeship programs that allow interested individuals to learn about the trade before starting an apprenticeship.
A well-trained and experienced carpenter can expect to earn a decent living. However, the pay for this career is relatively low compared to other skilled and technical jobs. Moreover, carpenters are rarely paid overtime, and working conditions can be stressful and dangerous.
Amid a nationwide housing shortage, some rank-and-file carpenters are considering a work stoppage to press for better wages and benefits. Others are pushing for new laws to ease restrictions on construction sites. But Joe Weisling, a carpenter and training director at a Wisconsin labor union, says carpenters are more than brawn: “You have to have some brains to do this job.” He cites the example of the Grammy-winning 1970s musical duo the Carpenters, whose soft melodies and precise arrangements stood in stark contrast to the louder rock popular at the time. carpenters