What are the pros and cons of being a carpenter?

The pros and cons of being a carpenter relate to the ability to work with your hands, develop strong repair skills, and injury possibilities. Here are the top pros and cons of being a carpenter:

Pros:

• The ability to work with your hands

If you are a "hands-on" person, then a career in carpentry might be a great option for you. Being a carpenter is an inherently physical job. You get the opportunity to learn and use many different tools that assist you in building furniture and constructing essential aspects of homes and buildings. You can then also use these skills in your personal life.

• Developing strong repair skills

Carpentry requires you to learn how to repair wooden items that are damaged, such as furniture and structures. Some in the field learn advanced carpentry skills and then have the ability to use them in their time off from work. This can save you from having to call a handyman or even give you a creative hobby you can enjoy during your off time.

• Education requirements

Most carpenters are only required to have a high school diploma or GED. Some choose to go to trade school to learn carpentry, and this is still a shorter process and costs less money than traditional four-year colleges. You can also try to obtain an apprenticeship in carpentry, which is a great opportunity because you get to learn the trade and be paid for it at the same time.

• Decent wages

Considering the fairly low bar for entry, carpenters earn decent wages and salaries. The average salary of a carpenter in the United States is $55,742 per year. Carpenters can also seek to join a union, which can give them access to better benefits, pay, and representation. In addition, some carpenters can earn impressive salaries if they specialize in a certain area.

Cons:

• Injury possibilities

Certain kinds of carpentry can present risks for physical harm and even serious injuries. The work requires you to use many different kinds of tools, including heavy machinery, which can be dangerous. Saws, hand chisels, and drills can also be hazardous to use in certain scenarios. It is important to be trained in safety protocols when doing carpentry work.

• Hard labor

Being a carpenter is often a very physical job. The labor-intensive element of this job can not only lead to injuries but also just wear and tear on your body overall. Carpenters might stand for long periods, have to carry heavy materials, and put their bodies into uncomfortable configurations for certain kinds of work.

The demand for carpenters is pretty low. The United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts only a 2% job growth for this field of work within the next 10 years. This is significantly lower than the average job growth for all other occupations combined. This makes the field competitive and sometimes difficult to find sustained work in.