"How long does it take to become a carpenter in District of Columbia?"

"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 apprenticeships are available for carpenters in District of Columbia?"

"In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, 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 District of Columbia

Q: "How much do carpenters earn in District of Columbia?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,710. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.51 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 District of Columbia?"

"District of Columbia currently employs approximately 1,540 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 District of Columbia?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in District of Columbia earn a prevailing wage of approximately $34.41 per hour in base pay plus $14.33 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $48.74 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

District of Columbia carpenters earn a median annual wage of $61,710 ($29.67/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,540 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 1.9% above the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,710 ($29.67/hr)
25th percentile: $57,160 per year
75th percentile: $75,250 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $80,720 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,840 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 1,540
Versus national median: 1.9% above the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.51 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

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

District of Columbia employs approximately 1,540 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,710 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 District of Columbia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Carpenter in District of Columbia

How do I become a carpenter in District of Columbia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for carpenters in District of Columbia.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do carpenters earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for carpenters in District of Columbia is $61,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,840 and experienced professionals can earn $80,720 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (District of Columbia): $61,710 per year ¹

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in District of Columbia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. District of Columbia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Department of Employment Services ³.

Contact Information:

Office: D.C. Apprenticeship Council
Address: 4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 724-7000
Email: [email protected]

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), carpenters wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	13,280	$60,800	$66,790	$47,150	$90,590

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 2025.

Top Metros for Carpenters in District of Columbia

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest carpenter employment within District of Columbia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	13,280	$60,800

Explore carpenter programs in Washington.

Federal Prevailing Wage in District of Columbia

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in District of Columbia earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent District of Columbia general wage determinations show approximately $34.41 per hour in base pay plus $14.33 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $48.74 (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.

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for carpenters in District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 1,540 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in District of Columbia. You can also contact the Department of Employment Services for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in District of Columbia is $61,710, which is $2,400 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Employment Services: https://does.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/does/publication/attachments/DOES_Up-to%20date%20Non-Union%20Sponsors%202011.pdf ↩︎
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)