Carpenter Apprenticeship in Texas

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.

TX Median Salary
$48,150/yr
-19% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
TX Employment
34,400
Carpenters employed
TX 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 Texas: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in Texas 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.

Texas pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in Texas are $48,150/year, -19% below the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Texas 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 — Texas-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Texas Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in Texas across all experience levels.

10th pct
$35,520
Median
$48,150
90th pct
$62,380
Middle 50% of workers earn $41,750$56,450

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in Texas

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

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

Organization City County
AMARILLO CARPENTERS JAC Amarillo Potter County
Carpenters Local 1266 Austin Travis County
San Antonio Carpenters JAC Austin Bexar County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

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

Carpenter Apprenticeship in Texas

The 3 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Texas 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 Texas?
Carpenters in Texas earn a median salary of $48,150/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $59,310 for the trade.
What is the length of a Carpenter apprenticeship program?
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?
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 Texas?
Our directory surfaces 3 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Texas. 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?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Texas, a first-year Carpenter apprentice might earn around $24,075/yr (roughly half the $48,150 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 Texas-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Texas

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