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What is a finish carpenter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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Pursuing a career in carpentry requires delicate hands with crafting skills, and the same is the case for a Finish carpenter role. A finish carpenter is an individual who performs the final touches on a house after the structure is completely constructed. Adding designs to doors, windows, and cabinets, building bookshelves, and installing entrances are some of the tasks these carpenters carry out.

Normally, a Finish carpenter has a high school diploma and goes for an apprenticeship, which typically lasts for a year. The carpenter learns the trade on the job. Vocational courses such as stair layout and safety, exterior and interior trim, and cabinet making can help the finish carpenters to grow and excel quickly.

On average, working as a finish carpenter, you can expect to earn around $20 an hour and make more than $40,000 per year. Job opportunities in the US are gradually increasing for finish carpenters, and the career is growing steadily.

ScoreFinish CarpenterUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $46,987

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.6

Growth Rate 2%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.13%

Asian 1.61%

Black or African American 7.30%

Hispanic or Latino 23.22%

Unknown 4.67%

White 62.06%

Gender

female 3.49%

male 96.51%

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
8.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.3

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Finish Carpenter career paths

Key steps to become a finish carpenter

  1. Explore finish carpenter education requirements

    Most common finish carpenter degrees

    High School Diploma

    36.1 %

    Bachelor's

    24.3 %

    Associate

    22.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific finish carpenter skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Hand Tools19.39%
    Custom Cabinets12.85%
    Safety Rules7.28%
    Drywall Installation4.33%
    Door Hardware3.66%
  3. Complete relevant finish carpenter training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New finish carpenters 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 finish carpenter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real finish carpenter resumes.
  4. Research finish carpenter duties and responsibilities

    • Install cabinets, vinyl, FRP, carpet, windows, Sheetrock, painting, HVAC
    • Assist with electrical wiring and HVAC installation.
    • Operate tools like lather, drills, sanders and planers.
    • Demo rooms and add on with new framing Sheetrock and flooring.
  5. Prepare your finish carpenter resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your finish carpenter 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 finish carpenter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Finish Carpenter Resume templates

    Build a professional Finish Carpenter 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 Finish Carpenter resume.
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    Finish Carpenter Resume
  6. Apply for finish carpenter jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a finish carpenter 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 Finish Carpenter Job

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Average finish carpenter salary

The average Finish Carpenter salary in the United States is $46,987 per year or $23 per hour. Finish carpenter salaries range between $34,000 and $63,000 per year.

Average Finish Carpenter Salary
$46,987 Yearly
$22.59 hourly

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How do finish carpenters rate their job?

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Finish Carpenter reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023
Pros

Great Pay and benefits ($100,000) without spending the money on college. They have their own apprenticeship program. Is 100% self funded and does not use any tax dollars.

Cons

Some days are hot, some days are cold


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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


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

Livable wage

Cons

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


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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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