Helpers--Carpenters
Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 47-3012.00United States
Help carpenters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
- Median annual earnings
- $43,585
- Projected change
- +6.3%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 22.7K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
78.9% of the workforce
Growing to 24.13K by 2035
Explore this career by location
Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.
Showing United States
Loading available locations…
Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
Loading related ASU learning
The work
What helpers--carpenters do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Fasten timbers or lumber with glue, screws, pegs, or nails and install hardware.
- Clean work areas, machines, or equipment, to maintain a clean and safe job site.
- Perform tie spacing layout and measure, mark, drill or cut.
- Select tools, equipment, or materials from storage and transport items to work site.
- Drill holes in timbers or lumber.
- Cut timbers, lumber, or paneling to specified dimensions.
- Position and hold timbers, lumber, or paneling in place for fastening or cutting.
- Align, straighten, plumb, or square forms for installation.
- Hold plumb bobs, sighting rods, or other equipment to aid in establishing reference points and lines.
- Erect scaffolding, shoring, or braces.
- Construct forms and assist in raising them to the required elevation.
- Install handrails under the direction of a carpenter.
- Glue and clamp edges or joints of assembled parts.
- Smooth or sand surfaces to remove ridges, tool marks, glue, or caulking.
- Secure stakes to grids for constructions of footings, nail scabs to footing forms, and vibrate and float concrete.
- Cut and install insulating or sound-absorbing material.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $31,386
- 25th percentile
- $36,490
- 50th percentile
- $43,585
- 75th percentile
- $49,510
- 90th percentile
- $58,149
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $43,585 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+6.3%faster than average
202522,695 jobs
2035 projected24,131 jobs
1,436 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 78.9%
- Some college
- 18%
- Certificate
- 3.1%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Carpenter Helpers1,212 postings
- 02Carpenters/Helpers411 postings
- 03Carpenters/Laborers177 postings
- 04Carpenter Assistants158 postings
- 05Carpenters54 postings
- 06Carpenters Apprentice48 postings
- 07Concrete Carpenters37 postings
- 08Construction Helpers19 postings
- 09Carpenters/Handymen16 postings
- 10Certified Nursing Assistants11 postings
- 11Finish Carpenters10 postings
- 12General Laborers/Helpers10 postings
- 13Painters Helpers10 postings
- 14Trim Carpenters10 postings
- 15Lead Carpenters9 postings
- 16Carpenter Superintendents8 postings
- 17Construction Carpenters8 postings
- 18Residential Carpenters6 postings
- 19Skilled Laborers6 postings
- 20Carpenters/Painters5 postings
Top employers
- 01Aerotek71 postings
- 02Labor Finders42 postings
- 03Brasfield & Gorrie37 postings
- 04Oci27 postings
- 05Tradesmen International21 postings
- 06TIC20 postings
- 07TIC - The Industrial Company18 postings
- 08Baker Concrete Construction17 postings
- 09MasTec17 postings
- 10Baker Construction15 postings
- 11The Skilled Trades Company15 postings
- 12Heico Companies14 postings
- 13Signature Labor Services14 postings
- 14Black & Veatch13 postings
- 15Good Samaritan Society13 postings
- 16Cajun Industries12 postings
- 17Overland Contracting12 postings
- 18Trillium Staffing10 postings
- 19Pc Construction Company7 postings
- 20Brown & Root Industrial Services6 postings
Keep looking