What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - 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 Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,760. Employment concentration in Arkansas is roughly 0.72 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Arkansas currently employs approximately 4,030 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 Arkansas?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Arkansas earn a prevailing wage of approximately $16.08 per hour in base pay plus $2.77 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $18.85 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas carpenters earn a median annual wage of $47,760 ($22.96/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,030 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -21.2% below the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,760 ($22.96/hr)
25th percentile: $41,460 per year
75th percentile: $57,510 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $70,550 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,400 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 4,030
Versus national median: -21.2% below the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.72 - this occupation is less concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

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

Arkansas employs about 4,030 carpenters earning a median $47,760 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Arkansas.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Green Country Technology Center	74.8	Contact school for pricing	$37,261	67%	—	216 mi
2	Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee	68.1	Contact school for pricing	$36,725	100%	—	185 mi
3	Northeast Technology Center	60.2	Contact school for pricing	$49,636	97%	—	201 mi
4	University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville	54.5	$3,630 in-state / $4,662 out-of-state	$45,597	66%	Yes*	82 mi
5	Hinds Community College	53.6	$4,250 in-state / $7,300 out-of-state	$40,042	43%	Yes*	203 mi
6	Waynesville Career Center	45.4	Contact school for pricing	$51,909	78%	—	212 mi
7	East Arkansas Community College	44.3	$3,300 in-state / $4,380 out-of-state	$42,176	51%	Yes*	89 mi
8	Coahoma Community College	44.1	$3,490	$31,140	41%	Yes*	104 mi
9	Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester	42.2	Contact school for pricing	$36,651	45%	—	196 mi
10	Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	175 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location 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.

Arkansas employs approximately 4,030 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,760 ¹. 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 Arkansas, 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 (Arkansas): $47,760 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Arkansas

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

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 Arkansas? The median annual wage for carpenters in Arkansas is $47,760 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,400 and experienced professionals can earn $70,550 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

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

Contact Information:

Office: Arkansas Office of Skills Development
Address: 1 Commerce Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: (501) 683-1152
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Arkansas

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Arkansas earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Arkansas general wage determinations show approximately $16.08 per hour in base pay plus $2.77 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $18.85 (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 Arkansas

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	1,240	$50,620	$53,370	$40,250	$64,780
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	1,130	$49,070	$53,570	$38,520	$72,500
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	1,080	$48,050	$50,220	$37,040	$63,030
Fort Smith	240	$42,420	$45,080	$33,760	$62,500
Hot Springs	130	$43,370	$47,050	$34,840	$75,410
Jonesboro	110	$43,950	$47,990	$35,640	$68,620
Texarkana	90	$42,650	$45,980	$29,970	$63,380

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 Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 4,030 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do carpenters earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Arkansas is $47,760, which is $11,550 below the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Career Education - 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)