Carpentry programs: earnings, debt and schools by state
352 certificate and associate-degree programs at 277 U.S. schools teach carpenters. Federal data shows what past graduates earned and borrowed. Carpentry programs (CIP 46.02) cover framing, finish work, blueprint reading, safety and site layout.
Best-paying carpentry programs (one year after completion)
Ranked by the median earnings of completers working and not enrolled, among programs with at least 10 earners reported. High earnings can reflect local labor markets and who enrolls, so compare debt and completion too.
| School | City | Program | Credential | Completers/yr | 1-yr earnings | Median debt | Monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN | Carpenters | Associate degree | 253 | $69,108 | $9,071 | $103 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin, TX | Carpenters | Associate degree | – | $68,032 | – | – |
| North Bennet Street School | Boston, MA | Carpenters | Certificate | 11 | $51,454 | $10,750 | $122 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse, WI | Carpenters | Certificate | 13 | $44,778 | – | – |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester, MN | Carpenters | Certificate | 14 | $44,669 | – | – |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | Lancaster, PA | Carpenters | Associate degree | 31 | $40,393 | $11,000 | $125 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville, KY | Carpenters | Certificate | 45 | $39,195 | – | – |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee, WI | Carpenters | Certificate | 15 | $37,357 | – | – |
| Centura College-Norfolk | Norfolk, VA | Carpenters | Certificate | 34 | $35,631 | $14,750 | $168 |
| Centura College-Chesapeake | Chesapeake, VA | Carpenters | Certificate | – | $35,631 | $14,750 | $168 |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | Utica, NY | Carpenters | Certificate | 18 | $31,804 | – | – |
| Fort Hays Tech North Central | Beloit, KS | Carpenters | Certificate | 21 | $28,711 | – | – |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington, KY | Carpenters | Certificate | 47 | $27,975 | – | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago, IL | Carpenters | Certificate | 30 | $26,938 | – | – |
*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.
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Carpentry programs by state
| State | Programs | Schools | Median 1-yr earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4 | 4 | not reported | – |
| Alaska | 3 | 2 | not reported | – |
| Arizona | 12 | 10 | not reported | – |
| Arkansas | 2 | 2 | not reported | – |
| California | 20 | 12 | not reported | – |
| Colorado | 3 | 3 | not reported | – |
| Florida | 16 | 16 | not reported | – |
| Georgia | 23 | 18 | not reported | $21,451 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 3 | not reported | – |
| Idaho | 2 | 1 | not reported | – |
| Illinois | 12 | 9 | $26,938 | – |
| Indiana | 3 | 2 | $69,108 | $10,328 |
| Iowa | 17 | 12 | not reported | – |
| Kansas | 24 | 16 | $28,711 | – |
| Kentucky | 11 | 10 | $33,585 | – |
| Louisiana | 7 | 7 | not reported | – |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | $51,454 | $10,750 |
| Michigan | 11 | 7 | not reported | – |
| Minnesota | 22 | 16 | $44,669 | – |
| Mississippi | 7 | 5 | not reported | – |
| Missouri | 11 | 7 | not reported | $11,520 |
| Montana | 8 | 5 | not reported | – |
| Nebraska | 4 | 2 | not reported | – |
| Nevada | 3 | 2 | not reported | – |
| New Jersey | 3 | 3 | not reported | – |
| New Mexico | 9 | 7 | not reported | – |
| New York | 3 | 2 | $31,804 | $12,000 |
| North Carolina | 12 | 12 | not reported | – |
| North Dakota | 5 | 4 | not reported | – |
| Ohio | 3 | 2 | not reported | – |
| Oklahoma | 24 | 24 | not reported | – |
| Oregon | 2 | 1 | not reported | – |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | 14 | $40,393 | $9,500 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 1 | not reported | – |
| South Dakota | 2 | 1 | not reported | – |
| Texas | 5 | 3 | $68,032 | – |
| Utah | 5 | 5 | not reported | – |
| Virginia | 2 | 2 | $35,631 | $14,750 |
| Washington | 15 | 9 | not reported | – |
| Wisconsin | 13 | 13 | $41,068 | – |
| Wyoming | 2 | 2 | not reported | – |
States with fewer than three programs have no detail page.
What to know before you enroll
Most carpenters learn through apprenticeships or on-the-job training; a school certificate can help you start but does not replace field experience. OSHA 10/30 safety cards are common requirements on job sites.
Questions to ask every school
- Does the program include OSHA 10 or 30 training?
- How many hours are hands-on?
- Does it connect to local builders or apprenticeships?
For national pay and job outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics profile: Carpenters.
Frequently asked questions
How much do carpentry graduates earn?
Among 14 carpentry programs that report earnings, the median first-year figure is $38,276 for certificate programs ($35,631) and $68,032 for associate programs. These are medians of past graduates and vary by state and employer.
How much debt do carpentry students take on?
The median federal loan debt among borrowers across programs reporting it is $11,313. Many students in short programs borrow nothing; the figure only covers borrowers.
Is the data current?
It comes from the College Scorecard release dated October 15, 2026. The Department updates it annually and each figure describes graduates from earlier years.
Can I trust a school's own job-placement claims?
Treat them as a starting point. Ask for the placement rate definition, the number of graduates counted and the time window, then compare with the federal earnings above.
Related programs
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.