Select a program of interest to explore trade schools that match your goals.
Compare accredited Carpenter schools across California below, then review pay, licensing steps, and training paths for the trade.
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This page lists 10 schools, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.
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.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Joaquin Delta College | 66.6 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | Not reported | Yes* | In-state |
| 2 | College of the Canyons | 60.9 | Contact school for pricing | $64,248 | 44% | — | In-state |
| 3 | Rio Hondo College | 59.2 | $1,388 - $21,391 | $55,379 | 26% | Yes* | In-state |
| 4 | Santiago Canyon College | 56.1 | Contact school for pricing | $55,988 | 47% | — | In-state |
| 5 | Palomar College | 55.8 | Contact school for pricing | $82,130 | Not reported | Yes* | In-state |
| 6 | Fullerton College | 52.2 | Contact school for pricing | $52,754 | 34% | — | In-state |
| 7 | American River College | 51.4 | Contact school for pricing | $74,069 | 35% | Yes* | In-state |
| 8 | Long Beach City College | 43.6 | Contact school for pricing | $51,407 | 28% | — | In-state |
| 9 | College of the Redwoods | 42.3 | $1,198 - $15,504 | $37,636 | 30% | Yes* | In-state |
| 10 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College | 34.6 | Contact school for pricing | $46,673 | 31% | — | In-state |
Schools closest to the main population center in California are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in California is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.
| School | Median graduate earnings |
|---|---|
| Palomar College | $82,130 |
| American River College | $74,069 |
| College of the Canyons | $64,248 |
| Santiago Canyon College | $55,988 |
| Rio Hondo College | $55,379 |
| Fullerton College | $52,754 |
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State median annual wage | $75,920 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| State employment | 100,750 workers | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| State location quotient | 1.28 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| State unemployment rate | 6.1% | BLS LAUS (2025) |
| Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage | $65.33/hr ($39.15 base + $26.18 fringe) | DOL Wage and Hour Division, 2026 |
The cities below have the highest concentration of carpenter training programs and population centers within California. Click through for school listings near each:
The licenses below are reported by CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) for carpenter-related work in California:
License names and requirements are sourced from the CareerOneStop License Finder. Verify current rules with the issuing agency before applying.
In California, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - 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.
Carpenters construct, install, and repair building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
In California, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $75,920, about 100,750 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 1.28 (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.
In California, Carpenter programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $75,920 per year, and most earn between $47,490 and $119,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). California employs roughly 100,750 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 1.28 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Trade-relevant schools serving California include San Joaquin Delta College, College of the Canyons, and Rio Hondo College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
In California, Carpenter licensing is overseen by California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Common credentials include C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry License. A typical path requires 4+ years journeyman-level; 4,000-8,000 on-the-job hours plus 432+ classroom hours for apprenticeship.
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).
Carpenter training in California 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.
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), carpenters in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $75,920. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $47,490 to $119,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing for carpenter work is handled at the state level in California. Consult California'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/.
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
