Carpenter Apprenticeship in Oregon

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.

OR Median Salary
$61,170/yr
+3% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
OR Employment
16,390
Carpenters employed
OR Sponsors
4
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 Oregon: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in Oregon 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.

Oregon pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in Oregon are $61,170/year, +3% above the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Oregon has 4 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 — Oregon-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Oregon Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in Oregon across all experience levels.

10th pct
$39,540
Median
$61,170
90th pct
$102,980
Middle 50% of workers earn $48,280$81,370

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in Oregon

No carpenter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Oregon. 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 Oregon

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

Organization City County
LANE/DOUGLAS COUNTIES CARPENTERS JATC Portland
OREGON/COLUMBIA CARPENTERS JATC Portland
WESTERN STATES CARPENTERS TRAINING JATC Portland
OREGON CARPENTERS JATC Redmond
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

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

Carpenter Apprenticeship in Oregon

The 4 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Oregon 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 Oregon?
The BLS reports a median wage of $61,170/yr for Carpenters in Oregon (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.
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 Oregon?
Our directory surfaces 4 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Oregon. 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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $30,585/yr in Oregon). 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 Oregon-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Oregon

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