Carpenter Apprenticeship in New Jersey

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.

NJ Median Salary
$61,880/yr
+4% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
NJ Employment
12,930
Carpenters employed
NJ Sponsors
3
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 New Jersey: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in New Jersey 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.

New Jersey pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in New Jersey are $61,880/year, +4% above the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

New Jersey has 3 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 — New Jersey-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

New Jersey Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in New Jersey across all experience levels.

10th pct
$40,070
Median
$61,880
90th pct
$122,370
Middle 50% of workers earn $49,990$93,280

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in New Jersey

No carpenter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for New Jersey. 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 New Jersey

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

Organization City County
T & A Carpentry & Home Restorations ,Inc Clifton Passaic County
May Cabinets, Inc. Glassboro Gloucester County
Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers Kenilworth Middlesex County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

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

Carpenter Apprenticeship in New Jersey

The 3 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in New Jersey 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 do Carpenters earn in New Jersey?
The BLS reports a median wage of $61,880/yr for Carpenters in New Jersey (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How many years does it take to become a Carpenter through 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.
Where can I apply for a Carpenter apprenticeship in New Jersey?
Our directory surfaces 3 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in New Jersey. 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.
Do Carpenter apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $30,940/yr in New Jersey). 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 New Jersey-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in New Jersey

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