Carpenter Apprenticeship in North Dakota

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.

ND Median Salary
$58,390/yr
-2% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
ND Employment
2,830
Carpenters employed
ND 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 North Dakota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in North Dakota 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.

North Dakota pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in North Dakota are $58,390/year, -2% below the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

North Dakota 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 — North Dakota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

North Dakota Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in North Dakota across all experience levels.

10th pct
$41,830
Median
$58,390
90th pct
$77,080
Middle 50% of workers earn $48,920$65,450

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in North Dakota

No carpenter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for North Dakota. 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 North Dakota

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

Organization City County
BISMARCK-MANDAN AREA CARPENTERS JATC Bismarck Burleigh County
FARGO-MOORHEAD AREA CARPENTERS JATC Fargo Cass County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

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

Carpenter Apprenticeship in North Dakota

The 2 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in North Dakota 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

How much do Carpenters make in North Dakota?
The median annual wage for Carpenters in North Dakota is $58,390 as of May 2024. Wages range from $41,830 at the 10th percentile to $77,080 at the 90th percentile.
How many years does it take to become a Carpenter through apprenticeship?
A typical Carpenter apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
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.
Where can I apply for a Carpenter apprenticeship in North Dakota?
Contact one of the 2 Carpenter-adjacent registered sponsors in North Dakota (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Carpenter apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $29,195/yr in North Dakota). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the 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 North Dakota-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in North Dakota

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