How to hire a carpenter foreman

How to hire a carpenter foreman, step by step

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

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

What does a carpenter foreman do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the carpenter foreman you need to hire. Certain carpenter foreman roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a carpenter foreman to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a carpenter foreman that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of carpenter foreman salaries for various roles:

   Type of Carpenter Foreman	Description	Hourly rate
   Carpenter Foreman	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.	$20-37
   Prestressed Concrete Labour	Prestressed concrete labor works at construction sites where they are in charge of handling and processing prestressed concrete materials into structural forms. They typically coordinate with managers and engineers to learn the construction plans and guidelines, design and build structures, prepare materials, and perform corrective measures when necessary... Show more	$12-20
   Journeyman Painter	A Journeyman Painter specializes in painting walls and other surfaces according to project needs. Aside from applying paint, a journeyman painter is also responsible for cleaning and scraping off the dirt to prepare the painting procedures, identify client preferences, select equipment, and technique, and apply other finishes... Show more	$12-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • OSHA
   • Door Frames
   • Construction Sites
   • Drywall Installation
   • Construction Projects
   • Sub Contractors
   • Formwork
   • Punch List
   • Masonry
   • Safety Rules
   • Door Hardware
   • Sheetrock
   • Custom Cabinetry
   • Rough Carpentry

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage complete renovations and new construction of banks for commercial construction company.
   • Assist in direction of demo.
   • Read prints, order material, supervise, build, demo, remodel, advise sub-contractors
   • Handle responsibilities of supervising and coordinating activities of workers engage in formwork for placing concrete for bridge structures.
   • Replaced/Instal doors and windows, hang and finish Sheetrock, paint interior and exterior surfaces and install shingle and tin roofing.
   • Cut sidings and moldings, sections of weather stripping, openings in sheetrock and lumber using hand tools and power tools.

   More carpenter foreman duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your carpenter foreman job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A carpenter foreman can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, carpenter foremen' average salary in south dakota is 54% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level carpenter foremen 46% less than senior-level carpenter foremen.
   • Certifications. A carpenter foreman with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a carpenter foreman's salary.

   Average carpenter foreman salary

   $58,922yearly

   $28.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level carpenter foreman salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average carpenter foreman salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$79,671	$38
   2	District of Columbia	$69,217	$33
   3	Massachusetts	$68,947	$33
   4	Oregon	$64,028	$31
   5	Maryland	$61,612	$30
   6	Pennsylvania	$60,463	$29
   7	Ohio	$52,881	$25
   8	Montana	$52,233	$25
   9	Colorado	$52,128	$25
   10	South Carolina	$50,336	$24
   11	Utah	$48,400	$23
   12	Michigan	$48,328	$23
   13	Louisiana	$48,313	$23
   14	Illinois	$47,755	$23
   15	Indiana	$47,600	$23
   16	Florida	$47,126	$23
   17	Texas	$47,025	$23
   18	Iowa	$44,829	$22
   19	Georgia	$44,211	$21
   20	Mississippi	$43,414	$21

   Average carpenter foreman salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Swinerton	$77,737	$37.37	14
   2	Turner Construction	$76,134	$36.60	7
   3	Brasfield & Gorrie	$76,029	$36.55	24
   4	Wanzek Construction	$76,027	$36.55	1
   5	Koch Industries	$67,562	$32.48	1
   6	Baker Concrete Construction	$67,248	$32.33	24
   7	Rockford Construction	$66,183	$31.82
   8	Zachry Group	$65,707	$31.59	15
   9	GPAC	$65,457	$31.47
   10	Messer Construction Co.	$65,412	$31.45	11
   11	W. L. Butler	$65,135	$31.31
   12	Garney Holding Company	$64,921	$31.21	9
   13	Precision Concrete Construction	$63,648	$30.60	10
   14	DN Tanks	$62,337	$29.97
   15	Petticoat-Schmitt	$61,837	$29.73	3
   16	Aerotek	$61,795	$29.71	270
   17	Area Temps	$61,020	$29.34	1
   18	PeopleReady	$60,700	$29.18	66
   19	Walsh Electric	$60,480	$29.08
   20	Christman	$58,714	$28.23	4

4. Writing a carpenter foreman job description

   A carpenter foreman 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. Below, you can find an example of a carpenter foreman job description:

   Carpenter foreman job description example

   Servicemark is Building Better Together
   Come join us at Servicemark Construction LLC, part of the Skyline Construction family. Today, Skyline operates multiple offices located throughout California, Washington, and Illinois. Skyline is a 100% employee-owned, award-winning General Contractor, with an award-winning CEO at the helm. We believe that we are “building better together.”
   
   What's in it for you?
   Share in close proximity to leadership
   You will have direct communication with the leaders of Servicemark. You will be recognized and compensated for a job well done.
   
   Interesting and diverse projects
   Experience all aspects of tenant service projects while working as a valued member of the team. No two days will be exactly the same, which leads to continuous learning and development.
   
   What will you be doing?
   This role performs multifaceted hands-on construction activities as well as supervise/coordinate direct labor and subcontractors in a fast paced, rapidly changing project environment. Experience all aspects of tenant service projects while working as a valued member of the team.
   
   As a Carpenter Foreman, you will serve in the following areas:75% work days. Day Shift is 5:00am - 1:30pm typical, Night Shift is 6:00pm - 2:30am typical Self-perform and supervise projects ranging from one day/night to several weeks duration.Work area mostly in downtown Seattle, but can include most of greater Puget Sound.Commercial TI work in active offices/spaces.
   Desired TraitsMaintain safe working environment according to WISHA/company standards and requirements.Minimum of 10 years journeyman finishing carpenter experience.Willing to join the Carpenter's Union.Experience and Ability to self-manage and run crews & subcontractors.Experience following and managing project schedules.Versed in commercial doors and hardware including electrified systems.Capable of reading and understanding blue-prints and manufacturer specifications.Strong time management skills.Basic computer/email knowledge and skills with MS Office, Bluebeam a plus.Good attendance/Reliable.Good driving record.Must be able to pass background check.Professional appearance & people/customer oriented personality.
   Perks and BenefitsCompany vehicle use (upon acceptable driving record).Employee Stock Ownership Program.Cell phone.Laptop computer.Full carpenter shop.7 paid holidays Union recognized holidays.Potential for over union foreman scale based on experience/performance.The above may be subject to a probationary period beforehand.
   About us
   Servicemark Construction is the premier commercial tenant services company in the greater Puget Sound region, providing handyman services including maintenance, repairs and minor tenant improvements within Class A office and commercial buildings.
   
   As self-performing specialists in all aspects of carpentry, painting and electrical work, we are experts in working in occupied spaces without business disruption. We specialize in on-call service work, minor renovations, touchups, office fronts and demountable wall installations. With like-minded subcontractors on hand for scopes outside of our expertise, all maintenance and repairs are thoroughly covered.
   
   Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
   Diversity, equity and inclusion are tightly woven into the culture at Servicemark. It's not by accident, but rather quite intentional that we are leading the construction industry in establishing and celebrating a diverse workforce. Our commitment starts with creating a varied and rich employee base. One that reflects the diverse community we live in and aligns with the needs of our valued and trusted clients.
   
   As a 100% employee owned company, diversity, equity and inclusion are the foundation for our company's structure and purpose. Consciously, we make decisions every day for the betterment of the collective whole, rather than a small few.
   
   Come join us if you would like to contribute to a team that is sparking change in the construction industry. We need your help to create a better workplace, a better community, a better world.
   
   Organizational Structure:
   Servicemark is proud to be part of the Skyline family of companies and is 100% employee owned. Our organization offers seamless construction experiences that includes the same values, systems, oversight and commitment to building the highest quality projects under an umbrella that is well established and committed to the Seattle marketplace. Our sister companies include Skyline Construction (California, Seattle, and Chicago interiors) and Skyline Capital Builders (west coast ground-up construction).
   
   WHY WORK AT SERVICEMARK?
   OWN A PIECE OF THE COMPANY
   We are 100% Employee Owned. As an ESOP shareholder you will participate
   in an additional retirement plan that well exceeds industry standards.
   
   PARTICIPATE IN A THRIVING BUSINESS
   You will be part of a growing thriving business that truly values its employees.
   
   About ESOP: Servicemark is a 100% Employee Owned Company. Employees are issued stock during their tenure which accumulates and functions as an enhanced retirement plan in addition to your normal union 401k contributions.
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
   
   Company ID: 74025964

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right carpenter foreman 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 carpenter foremen they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit carpenter foremen 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 carpenter foreman job on Zippia to find and attract quality carpenter foreman candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting carpenter foremen 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 carpenter foreman

   Once you've found the carpenter foreman 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 carpenter foreman. 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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How much does it cost to hire a carpenter foreman?