Carpenter Apprenticeship in District of Columbia

Wages, programs & career outlook

Carpenters frame buildings, install doors and windows, build cabinets, and finish out interiors — everything from stud walls to stair treads. The trade splits into rough (framing, structural) and finish (trim, cabinetry) specialties, often overlapping on a job.

DC Median Salary
$66,100/yr
+11% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
DC Employment
1,270
Carpenters employed
DC Sponsors
0
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.5%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
74,100
Nationally, per yr

Carpenter Apprenticeship in District of Columbia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in District of Columbia combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

District of Columbia pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in District of Columbia are $66,100/year, +11% above the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

District of Columbia has 0 registered apprenticeship sponsors for carpenter listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% job growth for carpenters nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 74,100 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — District of Columbia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

District of Columbia Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in District of Columbia across all experience levels.

10th pct
$51,100
Median
$66,100
90th pct
$82,780
Middle 50% of workers earn $59,300$73,710

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in District of Columbia

No carpenter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for District of Columbia. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't included in the national directory. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Carpenter Apprenticeship Sponsors in District of Columbia

Our directory doesn't surface Carpenter-specific registered sponsors in District of Columbia. This usually reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors use generic company names rather than trade-specific branding — it doesn't mean programs don't exist. Direct search on apprenticeship.gov is the most reliable way to find current openings.

Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2031 and state DC for the most relevant results.

Carpenter Apprenticeship in District of Columbia

District of Columbia has a smaller Carpenter industry, and our directory doesn't surface trade-specific registered sponsors for this state. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name alone. Search apprenticeship.gov for current openings, or contact your state apprenticeship agency and the relevant national union (IUEC, IBEW, UA, SMART, etc.) for referrals to nearby programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Carpenters earn in District of Columbia?
The BLS reports a median wage of $66,100/yr for Carpenters in District of Columbia (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Carpenter apprenticeship?
Most Carpenter apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
What's the difference between a Carpenter apprenticeship and trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find a Carpenter apprenticeship in District of Columbia?
Our directory doesn't surface Carpenter-specific registered sponsors in District of Columbia — typical for smaller markets where sponsors use generic company names. Best path: (1) search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP for current openings, (2) contact the relevant national union's closest local (find locals via apprenticeship.gov), or (3) reach out to your state apprenticeship agency directly.
How much do Carpenter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In District of Columbia, a first-year Carpenter apprentice might earn around $33,050/yr (roughly half the $66,100 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Carpenters also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 15 Carpenters programs nationwide →
Too few District of Columbia-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in District of Columbia

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.