Carpenter Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

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.

PA Median Salary
$59,240/yr
-0% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
PA Employment
29,900
Carpenters employed
PA Sponsors
5
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 Pennsylvania: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in Pennsylvania are $59,240/year, -0% below the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Pennsylvania has 5 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 — Pennsylvania-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Pennsylvania Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in Pennsylvania across all experience levels.

10th pct
$39,310
Median
$59,240
90th pct
$92,160
Middle 50% of workers earn $47,480$74,530

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in Pennsylvania

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

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

Organization City County
CARPENTERS JATC OF GREATER PA-LEBANON CENTER Lebanon Lebanon County
EASTERN ATLANTIC STATES CARPENTERS TECHNICAL COLLEGE Philadelphia
Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers Philadelphia Philadelphia County
(PITTSBURGH) HEAVY HIGHWAY CARPENTERS JATC Pittsburgh Allegheny County
KML Carpenters' Apprenticeship & Training Fund Pittsburgh Allegheny County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

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

Carpenter Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has only 5 Carpenter-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Carpenters earn in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for Carpenters in Pennsylvania is $59,240 as of May 2024. Wages range from $39,310 at the 10th percentile to $92,160 at the 90th percentile.
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.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Carpenters?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Carpenters, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for a Carpenter apprenticeship in Pennsylvania?
Contact one of the 5 Carpenter-adjacent registered sponsors in Pennsylvania (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Carpenter apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $29,620/yr in Pennsylvania). 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 Carpenters programs in Pennsylvania →
Or see all 15 programs nationwide.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Pennsylvania

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