How to hire a form carpenter

How to hire a form carpenter, step by step

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

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

What does a form carpenter do?

Post a form carpenter job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your form 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 a form 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

   Hiring the perfect form carpenter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

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

   Type of Form Carpenter	Description	Hourly rate
   Form 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.	$14-24
   Builder	Builders are responsible for managing, coordinating, and working on the construction. They are also responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial and residential buildings... Show more	$11-21
   Installer	Installers are assigned to assemble equipment or fixtures in the client's work or home area. They should have extensive knowledge of the product they will install to ensure it works as intended... Show more	$14-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Ladders
   • Scaffolding
   • Safety Rules
   • Clean Environment
   • Construct Forms
   • Fall Protection
   • Work Ethic
   • Tie Rebar
   • Form Panels
   • OSHA
   • Building Codes
   • Concrete Structures
   • Safety Regulations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Build wooden forms for concrete to build walls, stairs, home foundations, etc.
   • Build stairs, mantles, and furniture.
   • Have security passport and OSHA card.
   • Assist to erect scaffolding to complete all projects.
   • Work using all PPE along when using power tools.
   • Fabricate and erect formwork and bulkheads using wood and proprietary systems.

   More form carpenter duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $40,274yearly

   $19.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level form carpenter salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average form carpenter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$49,292	$24
   2	Maryland	$46,877	$23
   3	Pennsylvania	$45,391	$22
   4	Arizona	$43,142	$21
   5	New York	$41,397	$20
   6	Indiana	$40,181	$19
   7	Kentucky	$39,031	$19
   8	Texas	$38,498	$19
   9	Tennessee	$37,206	$18
   10	Georgia	$36,248	$17
   11	South Carolina	$35,080	$17
   12	Louisiana	$34,829	$17
   13	Alabama	$34,610	$17
   14	Ohio	$34,447	$17
   15	Mississippi	$33,687	$16
   16	Florida	$32,960	$16
   17	North Carolina	$32,803	$16

   Average form carpenter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Turner Construction	$51,375	$24.70	18
   2	Sundt Construction	$51,206	$24.62	20
   3	Allan A. Myers	$49,769	$23.93
   4	Kinsley Construction	$48,806	$23.46	3
   5	Precision Concrete Construction	$48,645	$23.39	6
   6	Brasfield & Gorrie	$48,312	$23.23	25
   7	Phillips and Jordan	$46,669	$22.44
   8	Curtis Contracting	$46,389	$22.30	7
   9	Snelling	$40,069	$19.26	20
   10	Tradesmen International	$40,019	$19.24	92
   11	Aerotek	$39,633	$19.05	67
   12	AGC of Texas	$39,378	$18.93	4
   13	Webber Group Inc	$39,378	$18.93
   14	PeopleReady	$39,057	$18.78	14

4. Writing a form carpenter job description

   A good form carpenter job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a form carpenter job description:

   Form carpenter job description example

   UBC/MRCC CARPENTERS,HEADQUARTERS Warren, Mi. 48091

   As a UBC Michigan Carpenter you will get the opportunity to work with one of the largest construction organizations in all of North America, well making a decent living & a fair wage to take care of and raise your family with pride & Dignity!

   *Description*

   UBC/MRCC MICHIGAN CARPENTERS is seeking experienced JOURNEYMEN CONCRETE FORM CARPENTERS to join our organization. If you are an experienced Journeymen Carpenter in the field of setting, installing and building concrete forms/Rigging/Blue print Reading/Welding and Torch cutting and not afraid of heights (there may be climbing). with good transportation, the jobs will be in the Detroit and Tri county area. This is your chance to advance your career.

   Starting pay for Journeymen Concrete Carpenters is $35.90 Base wage on the Check with a total package of $66.91 which includes pension, Annuity, Healthcare, Dental & Vision.

   Starting pay for Apprentice's is 55% of Journeymen Pay which is $19.75 Base wage on the check and a total package of $41.31 Apprentice's attend school one day every 2 weeks for 4 years, they also will receive a 5% Raise every 6 months until they reach journeymen level.

   We are nationally recognized as the Largest Carpenter organization for over a century, employing the most highly skilled and qualified Carpenters in all of North America. We are affiliated with over 350 Carpenter Construction Contractors in the State of Michigan alone, with 3 training centers located throughout the state of Michigan, with state of the art training at our finger tips, to upgrade the skills of our Carpenters.

   Specific Responsibilities:

   • As a UBC MICHIGAN journeyman Concrete form Carpenter you will be responsible for the installation of Erecting, Building and installing Concrete Forms for Footers, foundations, walls, as well as repairing sub-structures. For Bridges & Buildings.

   Preferred Qualifications:

   • At least 4 years of experience in carpentry field or more

   • Most be Proficient in building and installing wood stick built forms, Various sizes of gang forms (Efco & Perry Form system, Etc), concrete Form panels (Symons & Meva panels, Etc.)

   • Familiar with Rigging/Blue print Reading/Welding and Torch cutting and not afraid of heights (there may be climbing).

   •Erecting scaffolding/ladders for assembling structures above or below ground level.

   •Experience working with equipment such as boom lifts, scissor lifts, and forklifts

   ** Additional Requirements**

   • Experience working as a Carpenter

   • Understanding of and the ability to follow jobsite safety requirements

   • Ability to work well with others in a crew

   • Compliance to zero Tolerance drug policy

   • Good Attitude

   • good transportation, the jobs will be in the Detroit and Tri county area

   Company DescriptionWe are nationally recognized as the largest Carpenters & Pile Driver organization for over a century, employing the most highly skilled and qualified Carpenters & Pile Drivers in all of North America. We are affiliated with over 350 Construction contractors in Southeast Michigan alone.
   
   *Organization Details*
   
   Simply put, UBC Michigan Carpenters & Pile Drivers is not a temp agency and we do not hire just anybody, we are highly selective and committed to hiring journeymen and journeywoman Carpenters who desire to be the best and most professional in their field of work!
   
   *Organization Affiliates*
   
   UBC/Michigan Carpenters & Pile Drivers is a proud supporter of Helmets 2 Hardhats. We have in the past and continue to be one of the largest employers of Military Veterans returning home after serving our country, utilizing many of the skills they have acquired while serving.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find form carpenters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any form carpenters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level form carpenters with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit form carpenters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 form carpenter

   Once you've selected the best form carpenter 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new form carpenter first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 form carpenter?