How to hire an apprentice carpenter

How to hire an apprentice carpenter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step apprentice carpenter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an apprentice carpenter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new apprentice carpenter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an apprentice carpenter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your apprentice carpenter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an apprentice carpenter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An apprentice carpenter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, apprentices carpenter from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of apprentices carpenter.

   Type of Apprentice Carpenter	Description	Hourly rate
   Apprentice Carpenter	Carpenters construct and repair building frameworks and structures—such as stairways, doorframes, partitions, rafters, and bridge supports—made from wood and other materials. They also may install kitchen cabinets, siding, and drywall.	$14-22
   Mason	A mason is responsible for shaping artificial mineral products, concrete blocks, stone pieces, and bricks to create structures essential for construction or other building purposes using various machinery and equipment, following the highest safety standards and production procedures. Masons analyze schematics and blueprints, applying the clients' specifications and customization to their product expertise... Show more	$13-32
   General Foreman	Using their knowledge and expertise of all construction disciplines, a general foreman plans and oversees operations within a construction site to ensure that everything is running smoothly. They are typically in charge of conducting regular inspections, coordinating with engineers and architects, managing the budget and expenditures, supervising workers, and ensuring that the project moves according to the desired time frame... Show more	$17-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Ladders
   • Caulking
   • Work Ethic
   • Scaffolding
   • Reference Points
   • Door Frames
   • Carpentry Tools
   • Plumbing
   • Door Hardware
   • Safety Rules
   • Local Building Codes
   • Window Frames
   • Roofing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate tools ranging from drills, caulking guns, tape measure to chop saws, table saws, skill saws.
   • Provide help with certain tasks such as drywall, paint, caulking and framing, brickwork, roofing, and landscaping.
   • Trim work, framing, paint, Sheetrock.
   • Maintain a clean work site, while utilizing the proper PPE.
   • Help with multiple side jobs and bathroom renovations, from demo to finish.
   • Operate a terrain telescoping man lift, backhoe, skid steer and tractor.

   More apprentice carpenter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your apprentice carpenter job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An apprentice carpenter salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an apprentice carpenter in North Carolina may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level apprentice carpenter usually earns less than a senior-level apprentice carpenter. Additionally, an apprentice carpenter with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average apprentice carpenter salary

   $37,902yearly

   $18.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level apprentice carpenter salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average apprentice carpenter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$51,794	$25
   2	California	$49,616	$24
   3	Massachusetts	$43,415	$21
   4	New York	$41,983	$20
   5	Indiana	$41,510	$20
   6	Minnesota	$41,001	$20
   7	Oregon	$40,725	$20
   8	Colorado	$38,399	$18
   9	Ohio	$36,888	$18
   10	Wisconsin	$36,847	$18
   11	Utah	$34,875	$17
   12	Illinois	$34,752	$17
   13	Michigan	$34,066	$16
   14	Arizona	$33,872	$16
   15	Florida	$31,842	$15
   16	Tennessee	$31,067	$15
   17	Texas	$30,771	$15
   18	North Carolina	$29,081	$14
   19	Alabama	$28,187	$14

   Average apprentice carpenter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory	$46,203	$22.21
   2	Cleveland Construction	$44,967	$21.62	2
   3	Baker Concrete Construction	$44,558	$21.42	24
   4	Messer Construction Co.	$43,024	$20.68
   5	Adolfson & Peterson	$42,751	$20.55	2
   6	Hensel Phelps	$41,158	$19.79	11
   7	The Walsh Group	$40,472	$19.46	34
   8	Walsh Electric	$40,458	$19.45	1
   9	Swinerton	$40,437	$19.44	11
   10	Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties	$39,555	$19.02
   11	EWI Worldwide	$38,224	$18.38
   12	Tradesmen International	$38,038	$18.29	149
   13	Aerotek	$37,876	$18.21	125
   14	Cape Associates, Inc.	$37,832	$18.19	2
   15	University City Housing Company	$37,752	$18.15	2
   16	Church Of Jesus Christ Inc	$37,752	$18.15
   17	Advance Holding Corporation	$37,752	$18.15	2
   18	Closet Factory	$37,688	$18.12	29
   19	CLC	$37,651	$18.10
   20	Skilled Trades	$37,295	$17.93	8

4. Writing an apprentice carpenter job description

   An apprentice carpenter job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an apprentice carpenter job description:

   Apprentice carpenter job description example

   -2+ years working as a carpenter or helper within commercial construction

   -Ability to use a tape measure

   -Ability to use power and hand tools

   -Ability to lift 50 LBs

   -Valid Driver's license to get from site to site

   Pay: $16-$25

   Shift: 7AM-3:30PM (Report to Site each morning)

   Benefits: 401k company match, Health/Vision/Dental, Paid Time Off, Health Savings Account and FSA

   Why Work Here?

   -One of the Largest non-union General Contractor in the area

   -On the job training program

   -Backlog of work awarded is in the millions

   -Training Program

   Skills:

   construction, metal stud, Framing, Carpentry, Finish, Hardware, Finish carpentry, Drywall, Cabinetry, Power tool, Blueprint, Drywall finishing

   Additional Skills & Qualifications:

   -Metal stud framing for walls and ceilings

   -Acoustical ceilings and grid

   -Installation of commercial doors and hardware

   -Installation of wood and composite trim

   -Ability to read blueprints

   Specific responsibilities:

   -Installing walls, floors, ceilings, and finishes using materials such as: wood, steel, metal, plastics, and composites of multiple materials

   -Fitting and installing window frames, doors, door frames, door hardware, interior and exterior trim using a carpenters level, plumb bob, and laser levels

   -Shaping or cutting materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws

   -Following established safety rules and regulations and maintaining a safe and clean environment

   -Building or repairing cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, hand tools, or power tools

   -Assembling and fastening materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue

   -Removing damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools

   Experience Level:

   Entry Level

   About Aerotek:

   We know that a company's success starts with its employees. We also know that an individual's success starts with the right career opportunity. As a Best of Staffing Client and Talent leader, Aerotek's people-focused approach yields competitive advantage for our clients and rewarding careers for our contract employees. Since 1983, Aerotek has grown to become a leader in recruiting and staffing services. With more than 250 non-franchised offices, Aerotek's 8,000 internal employees serve more than 300,000 contract employees and 18,000 clients every year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in talent solutions. Learn more at

   The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right apprentice carpenter for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with apprentices carpenter they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit apprentices carpenter who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your apprentice carpenter job on Zippia to find and attract quality apprentice carpenter candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting apprentices carpenter requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new apprentice carpenter

   Once you've found the apprentice carpenter candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new apprentice carpenter. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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