How to hire a carpenter/labour

How to hire a carpenter/labour, step by step

Here's a step-by-step carpenter/labour 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/labour job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new carpenter/labour
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a carpenter/labour do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The carpenter/labour hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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/labour 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/labour that fits the bill.

   This list presents carpenter/labour salaries for various positions.

   Type of Carpenter/Labour	Description	Hourly rate
   Carpenter/Labour	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.	$12-22
   Construction Foreman	A construction foreman is responsible for overseeing construction operations and determining the construction progress by monitoring plans and schedules. A construction foreman allocates tasks to the workers and ensures that everyone adheres to the safety guidelines and regulations, preventing potential hazards in the work area and avoiding construction delays... Show more	$20-37
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Roofing
   • Safety Rules
   • Drywall Installation
   • Door Installation
   • Sheetrock
   • Tape Measure
   • Construction Sites
   • Window Installation
   • Demo
   • Nail Guns
   • Masonry
   • Construction Projects
   • Caulking
   • General Carpentry

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform rough carpentry tasks utilizing basic carpentry tools including framing and roofing.
   • Concrete laborer, finish concrete, operate equipment, door hardware, concrete demo
   • Skil carpentry such as framing houses decking whole houses.AL do residential and commercial HVAC duct work.
   • Patch sheetrock, tape and floating after install, lastly put on texture either spray or knock down for beautiful look.
   • Remodel work framing sheetrock electrical plumbing
   • Frame houses roofing flooring siding concrete some electrical

   More carpenter/labour duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your carpenter/labour job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A carpenter/labour 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 a carpenter/labour in Montana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level carpenter/labour usually earns less than a senior-level carpenter/labour. Additionally, a carpenter/labour 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 carpenter/labour salary

   $36,131yearly

   $17.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level carpenter/labour salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average carpenter/labour salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$52,256	$25
   2	Washington	$43,630	$21
   3	Alaska	$38,513	$19
   4	Indiana	$37,376	$18
   5	Colorado	$35,876	$17
   6	Pennsylvania	$35,569	$17
   7	North Dakota	$33,734	$16
   8	Ohio	$33,537	$16
   9	Iowa	$32,166	$15
   10	North Carolina	$32,065	$15
   11	Florida	$31,307	$15
   12	South Carolina	$31,145	$15
   13	Nebraska	$30,180	$15
   14	Utah	$29,993	$14
   15	Montana	$29,827	$14
   16	Kansas	$29,779	$14

   Average carpenter/labour salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	RQ Construction	$45,446	$21.85	8
   2	IMCO Construction	$44,352	$21.32
   3	MDU Resources	$43,964	$21.14
   4	Kinsley Construction	$43,880	$21.10	6
   5	Builders FirstSource	$43,765	$21.04	4
   6	BELFOR Franchise Group	$42,354	$20.36	7
   7	W. L. Butler	$42,284	$20.33
   8	DSW Homes	$42,027	$20.21
   9	H&K Group	$39,525	$19.00	3
   10	BELFOR Property Restoration	$38,945	$18.72	16
   11	Gst	$38,852	$18.68
   12	Manatt's	$38,577	$18.55
   13	Tradesmen International	$37,763	$18.16	138
   14	EMR Elevator Services	$37,747	$18.15
   15	Staffworks Group	$37,722	$18.14	5
   16	Aerotek	$37,627	$18.09	208
   17	LaborMAX Staffing	$37,396	$17.98	14
   18	Primoris Services	$36,978	$17.78	31
   19	Cape Associates, Inc.	$36,851	$17.72	2
   20	AGC of Texas	$36,838	$17.71	3

4. Writing a carpenter/labour job description

   A carpenter/labour 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 a carpenter/labour job description:

   Carpenter/labour job description example

   Are you interested in a career that truly makes an impact? Do you want your job to help make nature and communities better with each project you touch?
   
   At RES, we believe that human progress and the restoration of nature's resources can go hand in hand. Our belief made us what we are today - the nation's leading ecological restoration company, with over 300 stream miles restored and conserved, 20,000,000 trees planted, and 15,000 acres of special-status species habitat established. We restore our land and waters with integrity and innovation, one community at a time.
   
   Do you want to be part of a team whose talent and dedication are unmatched in the industry? RES is accepting applications for a full-time
   Laborer with prior construction and/or landscape experience.
   What your day-to-day might look like?
   
   Primary job is seeding, mulching, and installing erosion control matting Work with construction crews on manual labor activities to support overall project Perform routine inspection and preventive maintenance on assigned equipment Clean equipment and reports any service related concerns promptly to supervisor Maintain a positive working relationship with customers and co-workers Qualifications
   
   Previous experience in outdoor construction Experience and understanding of engineered blue print drawings & specifications Must be willing and able to travel overnight and work at assigned project locations weekly Willingness & ability to occasionally lift 70 pounds Experience as a Laborer on Stream Restoration and/or Wetland construction projects preferred We invite you to become a part of our team!
   
   VEVRAA Federal Contractor
   
   RES is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of a diverse workforce. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right carpenter/labour 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/labours they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit carpenter/labours 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/labour job on Zippia to find and recruit carpenter/labour candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with carpenter/labour candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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/labour

   Once you've selected the best carpenter/labour candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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/labour. 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/labour?