How to Become a Carpenter in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 19,570 carpenters earning a median $79,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Illinois

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
166.9$4,819 in-state / $7,084 out-of-state$53,77158%Yes*138 mi
262.3$4,872 in-state / $7,115 out-of-state$57,76444%Yes*88 mi
359.6$3,504 in-state / $10,477 out-of-state$51,67839%Yes*43 mi
459.1$4,977 in-state / $7,255 out-of-state$55,20729%Yes*122 mi
556.0$4,956 in-state / $7,199 out-of-state$54,14251%Yes*52 mi
654.9$5,070 in-state / $15,330 out-of-state$52,70129%Yes*11 mi
752.5$5,184 in-state / $7,427 out-of-state$52,34625%Yes*82 mi
848.6$6,417 in-state / $8,394 out-of-state$46,00138%Yes*80 mi
940.9$4,284 in-state / $13,266 out-of-state$47,31532%—126 mi
1037.3$4,590 in-state / $15,150 out-of-state$43,24731%Yes*7 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.

Illinois employs approximately 19,570 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $79,000 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 Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $79,000 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Illinois

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

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 Illinois? The median annual wage for carpenters in Illinois is $79,000 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,890 and experienced professionals can earn $117,660 or more 1.

How to Become a Carpenter in Illinois

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

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: BEST, Inc
  • Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, IL 61348
  • Phone: (815) 224-0375
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Illinois

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Illinois earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Illinois general wage determinations show approximately $31.39 per hour in base pay plus $25.99 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $57.38 (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 Illinois

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin14,220$80,440$83,110$41,220$118,450
St. Louis7,210$70,990$71,600$45,000$99,550
Rockford810$72,770$75,240$46,470$104,360
Peoria780$75,280$74,600$42,440$105,440
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island670$60,440$62,600$39,520$91,550
Champaign-Urbana310$66,980$69,630$42,960$100,040
Paducah310$51,700$54,330$36,340$73,320
Springfield290$76,970$72,180$43,660$97,940
Decatur180$87,220$88,510$50,050$118,460
Cape Girardeau180$63,740$65,450$43,160$90,980
Bloomington170$75,470$74,110$47,050$103,240
Kankakee120$95,280$82,070$47,730$98,880

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 19,570 carpenters 1. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do carpenters earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Illinois is $79,000, which is $19,690 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Illinois

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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

  4. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)