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What is a carpenter helper and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Carpentry is an art form that caters to a vast group of building trades. They have the ability to transform simple raw material into visual inventions. Carpenter helpers are the glue that boosts these masterpieces to life while making around $14.17 an hour.

As an eager helper, you will have to work hard at professional construction sites, offices, and homes. You will basically be helping the carpenter carry out tasks like demolition, cleaning, preparation of workspace, material inventory, and producing small structures. While experts are in charge of the leading construction, carpenter helpers do all tasks linked to less skill and risk.

With an expected growth of 8% by 2028, this field has the potential to take the right person to far. To become a carpenter helper, you only need a high school degree, but around 10% of the helpers carry a bachelor's degree. Let your creative instincts flow with this versatile field!

ScoreCarpenter HelperUS Average
Salary
2.7

Avg. Salary $34,192

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.95%

Asian 1.65%

Black or African American 7.83%

Hispanic or Latino 23.14%

Unknown 4.53%

White 61.89%

Gender

female 7.13%

male 92.87%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Carpenter helper career paths

Key steps to become a carpenter helper

  1. Explore carpenter helper education requirements

    Most common carpenter helper degrees

    High School Diploma

    53.3 %

    Diploma

    14.9 %

    Associate

    14.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific carpenter helper skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Hand Tools29.98%
    Ladders12.57%
    Safety Rules7.25%
    Scaffolding6.05%
    Door Frames5.84%
  3. Complete relevant carpenter helper training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New carpenter helpers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a carpenter helper based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real carpenter helper resumes.
  4. Research carpenter helper duties and responsibilities

    • Put up and dismantle scaffolding, shoring, bracing, ladders, handrails, platforms and gangways.
    • Cut and put up Sheetrock, as well as cement board.
    • Apply caulking compounds by hand and with caulking gun to seal crevices.
    • Assist lead carpenter with various jobs, including hanging Sheetrock and painting.
  5. Prepare your carpenter helper resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your carpenter helper resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a carpenter helper resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable carpenter helper resume templates

    Build a professional carpenter helper resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your carpenter helper resume.
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    Carpenter Helper Resume
  6. Apply for carpenter helper jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a carpenter helper job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first carpenter helper job

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Average carpenter helper salary

The average carpenter helper salary in the United States is $34,192 per year or $16 per hour. Carpenter helper salaries range between $25,000 and $45,000 per year.

Average carpenter helper salary
$34,192 Yearly
$16.44 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do carpenter helpers rate their job?

-/5

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Carpenter helper reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

Seeing the finished product

Cons

I am a master carpenter. It’s hard sometimes waiting on materials to finish a job


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

Livable wage

Cons

Travel expenses, working away from home, working in bad conditions


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022
Pros

I enjoy building things with wood. The gratification of seeing things come together from bottom, to top, when building. From top to bottom when taking down. All the way from pouring the slab, to hanging pictures on the painted walls..

Cons

Rainy days, lazy Co workers,


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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