Compare accredited Carpenter schools across Illinois below, then review pay, licensing steps, and training paths for the trade.
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Best Carpenter Schools in Illinois
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
#1
Waubonsee Community College
📍
Sugar Grove, IL
•In-state option•BOC Score
59.6
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Rte 47 at Waubonsee Drive Sugar Grove, IL 60554-9454
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Illinois.
Schools closest to the main population center in Illinois are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Illinois 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.
Median Graduate Earnings at Carpenter Schools in IllinoisSource: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Carpenter Schools in Illinois (2026)
School
Median graduate earnings
Triton College
$52,701
Lincoln Land Community College
$52,163
Waubonsee Community College
$51,678
Southwestern Illinois College
$51,516
Kaskaskia College
$48,104
Parkland College
$47,315
Carpenter Pay and Job Outlook
What carpenters earn across the pay scaleProjected job growth for carpentersTop-paying states for carpenters
Illinois Quick Facts
Metric
Value
Source
State median annual wage
$79,000
BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment
19,570 workers
BLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient
0.74
BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate
4.7%
BLS LAUS (2024)
Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage
$57.38/hr ($31.39 base + $25.99 fringe)
DOL Wage and Hour Division, 2026
Top Cities for Carpenter Training in Illinois
The cities below have the highest concentration of carpenter training programs and population centers within Illinois. Click through for school listings near each:
Choose an accredited training path. Options include trade schools, community colleges, and registered apprenticeships.
Complete classroom instruction in code, safety, and trade theory.
Log on-the-job training hours under a licensed or experienced professional.
Pass any required state or local exam.
Apply for licensure or certification, then maintain it through continuing education as required by the state.
Apprenticeship Programs in Illinois
In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - 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 Illinois
Carpenters construct, install, and repair building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
In Illinois, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $79,000, about 19,570 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 0.74 (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 Illinois
In Illinois, Carpenter programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $79,000 per year, and most earn between $39,890 and $117,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Illinois employs roughly 19,570 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 0.74 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Trade-relevant schools serving Illinois include Waubonsee Community College, Lincoln Land Community College, and Triton College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Carpenter Training and Licensing in Illinois
Licensing for Carpenter varies by state and locality. Confirm current training, exam, and credential requirements with the appropriate Illinois 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 Illinois involve?
Carpenter training in Illinois 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 Illinois?
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), carpenters in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $79,000. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $39,890 to $117,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What is the Illinois license or certification process for carpenters?
Licensing for carpenter work is handled at the state level in Illinois. Consult Illinois'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.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
