Carpenter Apprenticeship in Washington

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.

WA Median Salary
$73,260/yr
+24% vs. national
National Median
$59,310/yr
WA Employment
26,340
Carpenters employed
WA 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 Washington: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered carpenter apprenticeship in Washington 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.

Washington pay vs. national

Median carpenter wages in Washington are $73,260/year, +24% above the national median of $59,310. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

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

Washington Wage Spread

Annual wages for Carpenters in Washington across all experience levels.

10th pct
$50,560
Median
$73,260
90th pct
$111,840
Middle 50% of workers earn $60,000$90,900

Current Carpenter Apprenticeship Openings in Washington

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

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

Organization City County
Construction Industry Training Council of Washington - Carpenter Bellevue
Inland Northwest Chapter Associated General Contractors Carpenters AC Spokane
Washington State UBC JATC Spokane
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Carpenter openings

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

Carpenter Apprenticeship in Washington

The 3 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Washington 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 Washington?
Carpenters in Washington earn a median salary of $73,260/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $59,310 for the trade.
How many years does it take to become a Carpenter through apprenticeship?
The standard Carpenter apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Should I do a Carpenter apprenticeship or go to trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Carpenters combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find a Carpenter apprenticeship in Washington?
Our directory surfaces 3 Carpenter-related registered sponsors in Washington. 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 Washington, a first-year Carpenter apprentice might earn around $36,630/yr (roughly half the $73,260 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 Washington-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Carpenter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Washington

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