Construction and extraction
Carpenter helper
Help carpenters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Median pay
$43,780
Growth to 2035
−2%
little or no change
Openings a year
2,000
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Carpenter helper
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Carpenter helper: 27% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Erect scaffolding, shoring, or braces.
- Clean work areas, machines, or equipment, to maintain a clean and safe job site.
- Align, straighten, plumb, or square forms for installation.
- Select tools, equipment, or materials from storage and transport items to work site.
- Fasten timbers or lumber with glue, screws, pegs, or nails and install hardware.
- Position and hold timbers, lumber, or paneling in place for fastening or cutting.
- Cut timbers, lumber, or paneling to specified dimensions.
- Hold plumb bobs, sighting rods, or other equipment to aid in establishing reference points and lines.
Also called: Carpenter Apprentice · Carpenter Assistant · Carpenter Helper
Outlook and AI
Helpers--carpenters held 21,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 21,500 by 2035 (−2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Occupational substitution - share decreases as construction laborers are increasingly assigned helpers tasks because they can support various trades, including carpenters.
Compare with
- Carpenter helper vs. Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
- Carpenter helper vs. Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Carpenter helper vs. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Carpenter helper vs. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Carpenter helper vs. Electrician helper
- Carpenter helper vs. Extraction worker helper
- Carpenter helper vs. Production worker helper
- Carpenter helper vs. Carpenter
- Carpenter helper vs. Roofer helper
- Carpenter helper vs. Structural iron and steel workers