What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Alaska?

In Alaska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Carpenter in Alaska (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in Alaska?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $73,860. Employment concentration in Alaska is about 1.82 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for carpenters in Alaska?

Alaska currently employs approximately 2,560 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Q: What is the federal prevailing wage for carpenters in Alaska?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Alaska earn a prevailing wage of approximately $50.79 per hour in base pay plus $26.42 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $77.21 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska carpenters earn a median annual wage of $73,860 ($35.51/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,560 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 21.9% above the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $73,860 ($35.51/hr)
25th percentile: $59,770 per year
75th percentile: $94,150 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $151,530 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $49,060 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 2,560
Versus national median: 21.9% above the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.82 - this occupation is more concentrated in Alaska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alaska employs about 2,560 carpenters earning a median $73,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Alaska.

Alaska employs approximately 2,560 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $73,860 ¹. The state’s concentration of carpenter jobs is 1.82x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 74,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Carpenter in Alaska, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Alaska): $73,860 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Alaska

How to become a Carpenter in Alaska? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for carpenters in Alaska.

How long does it take? Most paths into the carpenter field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do carpenters earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for carpenters in Alaska is $73,860 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,060 and experienced professionals can earn $151,530 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in Alaska

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Alaska training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Alaska that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to carpenters in Alaska before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in Alaska

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Alaska’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Anchorage Field Office
Address: 605 W. 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501-2249
Phone: (907) 271-5035
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Alaska

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Alaska earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Alaska general wage determinations show approximately $50.79 per hour in base pay plus $26.42 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $77.21 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁴.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within carpenter work.

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), carpenters wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Anchorage	1,460	$72,800	$78,640	$48,620	$149,320
La Crosse-Onalaska	450	$58,950	$62,240	$45,930	$83,600
Fairbanks-College	280	$84,970	$90,730	$53,450	$152,370

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for carpenters in Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 2,560 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alaska. You can also contact the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Alaska is $73,860, which is $14,550 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In Alaska

Best Trade Schools in Alaska (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

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)	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)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)