Carpenter Apprenticeship in Minnesota

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.

MN Median Salary
$64,650/yr
+9% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
MN Employment
15,190
Carpenters employed
MN Sponsors
2
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 Minnesota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in Minnesota 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.

Minnesota pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in Minnesota are $64,650/year, +9% above the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Minnesota has 2 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 — Minnesota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Minnesota Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in Minnesota across all experience levels.

10th pct
$45,830
Median
$64,650
90th pct
$95,910
Middle 50% of workers earn $51,060$82,990

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in Minnesota

No carpenter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Minnesota. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. 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 Minnesota

2 carpenter-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Minnesota. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current carpenter apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
NORTHERN MN CARPENTERS JAC Duluth St. Louis County
TWIN CITIES CARPENTERS JATC Saint Paul Ramsey County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

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

Carpenter Apprenticeship in Minnesota

The 2 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Minnesota mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Carpenter salary in Minnesota?
The median annual wage for Carpenters in Minnesota is $64,650 as of May 2024. Wages range from $45,830 at the 10th percentile to $95,910 at the 90th percentile.
How long is a Carpenter apprenticeship?
The standard Carpenter apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Should I do a Carpenter apprenticeship or go to 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 Minnesota?
Our directory surfaces 2 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Minnesota. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Carpenter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Minnesota, a first-year Carpenter apprentice might earn around $32,325/yr (roughly half the $64,650 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 Minnesota-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Minnesota

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