Best Carpenter Schools in Alaska (2026)

Compare accredited Carpenter schools across Alaska below, then review pay, licensing steps, and training paths for the trade.

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Best Carpenter Schools in Alaska

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 1 school within 260 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 1 of them carries a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, AK 260.1 miles away BOC Score 47.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 34.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 54
  • Annual completions: 367
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,252 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Carpenter Pay and Job Outlook

Carpenters annual wage by percentile: $40,410 at the 10th percentile, $60,580 median, $99,910 at the 90th. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
What carpenters earn across the pay scale
Projected job growth for carpenters: 959,000 jobs in 2024 to 1,002,100 in 2034, +4.5% change. Source: U.S. BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034.
Projected job growth for carpenters
Top-paying states for carpenters - Hawaii leads at $85,280. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
Top-paying states for carpenters

Alaska Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$73,860BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment2,560 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient1.82BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate6.8%BLS LAUS (2024)
Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage$77.21/hr ($50.79 base + $26.42 fringe)DOL Wage and Hour Division, 2026

How to Become a Carpenter in Alaska

  1. Choose an accredited training path. Options include trade schools, community colleges, and registered apprenticeships.
  2. Complete classroom instruction in code, safety, and trade theory.
  3. Log on-the-job training hours under a licensed or experienced professional.
  4. Pass any required state or local exam.
  5. Apply for licensure or certification, then maintain it through continuing education as required by the state.

Apprenticeship Programs in Alaska

In Alaska, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship (CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor). Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, typically over 3 to 5 years.

About Carpenter Careers in Alaska

Carpenters construct, install, and repair building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.

In Alaska, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $73,860, about 2,560 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 1.82 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Career outlook varies by region and specialization. Refer to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for national projections and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the latest state and metropolitan area data.

Carpenter Wages and Workforce in Alaska

In Alaska, Carpenter programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $73,860 per year, and most earn between $49,060 and $151,530 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Alaska employs roughly 2,560 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 1.82 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Trade-relevant schools serving Alaska include University of Alaska Southeast. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Carpenter Training and Licensing in Alaska

Licensing for Carpenter varies by state and locality. Confirm current training, exam, and credential requirements with the appropriate Alaska licensing board before you enroll; many employers also look for recognized industry certifications.

Training paths typically range from certificate programs (6 to 12 months) and associate degrees (about 2 years) to registered apprenticeships (3 to 5 years) that combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction (TradeCareerPath program data).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does carpenter training in Alaska involve?

Carpenter training in Alaska is offered through trade school certificate programs (typically 6 to 12 months), community college associate degree programs (about 2 years), and registered apprenticeships that combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction over 3 to 5 years. Coursework generally covers safety, applicable codes and standards, hands-on lab work, and exam preparation for any required credential.

How much do carpenters earn in Alaska?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), carpenters in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $73,860. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $49,060 to $151,530 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the Alaska license or certification process for carpenters?

Licensing for carpenter work is handled at the state level in Alaska. Consult Alaska's licensing board for current training, examination, and renewal requirements before enrolling in a program.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)