Career Categories Below this heading you will see a row of icons and names. This navigation allows you to view all the careers within a single category. When you choose a different category it will become highlighted.

Return to Career Journey By clicking the Return to Career Journey button you will be taken back to the start of this journey so you may make different choices and discover new career opportunities.

Carpenter Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work indoors and outdoors icon that represents where Carpenter work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Carpenter. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Carpenter click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Structural Construction

Carpenter

work indoors and outdoors

Carpenters construct, erect, and repair buildings and other structures made of wood, wood substitutes, steel, and other materials.

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  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; English; Shop; Physical Education

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Most carpenters are employed by construction contractors, are self-employed, or do construction or maintenance work for government agencies, utility companies or manufacturing firms. Employment prospects for carpenters vary considerably depending on the season and economic conditions.

    In Alberta, 82% of people employed as carpenters work in the following industries:

    • Construction.
    • Manufacturing.
  • DutiesDetails

    Carpenters may work on residential or commercial jobs:

    Residential jobs

    • Build forms for concrete basement walls (cribbing).
    • Build the house walls and roof.
    • Install finishes to outside of house (siding, etc.).
    • Install finished to interior of house (hang drywall, etc.).
    • Install doors, windows, flooring, cabinets, stairs, handrails, panelling, moulding, and ceiling tiles.
    • Reading blueprints or getting instructions from a supervisor.
    • Selecting materials, planning order of work.
    • Selecting methods of work.
    • Measuring and marking materials.

    Commercial jobs

    • Build concrete forms.
    • Build scaffolding.
    • Build bridges, trestles, tunnels, shelters, towers, and other structures.
    • Reading blueprints or getting instructions from a supervisor.
    • Selecting materials, planning order of work.
    • Selecting methods of work.
    • Measuring and marking materials.

    May specialize in:

    • Framing: Construct the frame of a building so other crews come in and finish the building.
    • Bench work: Build wooden products.
    • Finish work: Build cabinets, install trim work around windows, doors, etc.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • in shops.
      • inside new construction projects.
      • inside working on renovations.
    • Outdoors
      • Working in all kinds of weather.
      • building new construction projects.
      • Work outside year round, but may be slower in the winter.

    Hours:

    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30).
    • May work late hours while sun is still up.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • Lift and move up to 25 kilograms and heavier.
    • Risk of injury due to slips, falls.
    • Risk of injury due to falling objects.
    • Risk of injury due to sharp hand and power tools.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • The ability to stand, crouch, and kneel for long periods of time.
    • Works well with hands.
    • Good sense of balance for working on scaffolding.
    • Good math skills.
    • Works well with others.
    • Enjoy creating things with hands and working with wood.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.
    • Your employer believes your skills and knowledge are the same as a journeyperson.
    • You are self-employed in this trade.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 10-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 10-3 or equivalent.
    • or able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.

    Apprenticeship term:

    • Work on your first year in grade 10-12 through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
    • 4 years.
    • 1360 work hours each year.
    • 8 weeks classroom training each year.
    • May take exam in final year to earn Red Seal and work throughout most of Canada.
  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

    For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

    Outside the apprenticeship program, the following Alberta post-secondary institutions offer related training:

    • The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology offers a one year Millwork and Carpentry certificate program with a specialization in carpentry. The entrance requirement is Grade 10 with English and math.
    • The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology offers a 12 week Pre-Employment Carpenter certificate program. The entrance requirement is Grade 9, or a pass mark on the Alberta apprenticeship entrance exam.

    Pre-employment programs for prospective apprentices and continuing education programs for journeypersons may be offered on an as needed basis by the institutions listed above or other schools.

    For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    • Foreman.
    • Subcontractors.
    • Construction superintendent.
    • Construction contractor.
    • Self-employed.
    • Management or supervisory positions.
    • If you have supervisory or management experience in this trade, you may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.
    • Location in Alberta.

    Future Trends:

    • More than 15,800 Albertans work in this category.
    • Expect an annual below average growth of 1.8% from 2013 to 2017.
    • Forecast about 284 new positions created each year.
    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $22 to $34 an hour plus benefits (2009 estimate). Apprentice carpenters earn at least 60 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 per cent in the second, 80 per cent in the third and 90 per cent in the fourth.

    According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Carpenters occupational group earned on average from $22.74 to $32.61 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $28.15 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails