"How long does it take to become a carpenter in Iowa?"

"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 Iowa?"

"In Iowa, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Iowa Office of 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 Iowa

Q: "How much do carpenters earn in Iowa?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,710. Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.86 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 Iowa?"

"Iowa currently employs approximately 5,770 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 Iowa?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Iowa earn a prevailing wage of approximately $21.75 per hour in base pay plus $7.54 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $29.29 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa employs approximately 5,770 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,710 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 Iowa, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Carpenter in Iowa

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

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 Iowa? The median annual wage for carpenters in Iowa is $57,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,040 and experienced professionals can earn $76,540 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 (Iowa): $57,710 per year ¹

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in Iowa

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

Contact Information:

Office: Iowa Workforce Development
Address: 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 725-3675
Email: [email protected]

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	3,230	$52,800	$56,590	$40,420	$74,090
Des Moines-West Des Moines	1,810	$61,360	$61,450	$44,560	$76,670
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	670	$60,440	$62,600	$39,520	$91,550
Cedar Rapids	530	$58,920	$57,980	$42,220	$73,390
Iowa City	360	$49,680	$54,090	$37,060	$71,880
Sioux City	350	$51,100	$53,480	$35,730	$71,740
Dubuque	260	$60,090	$58,600	$39,920	$77,920
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	260	$55,840	$56,780	$38,870	$78,980
Ames	210	$55,640	$55,060	$39,110	$66,090

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 Iowa

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Des Moines-West Des Moines	1,810	$61,360
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	670	$60,440
Cedar Rapids	530	$58,920
Iowa City	360	$49,680
Sioux City	350	$51,100

Explore carpenter programs in Des Moines, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids.

Federal Prevailing Wage in Iowa

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Iowa earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Iowa general wage determinations show approximately $21.75 per hour in base pay plus $7.54 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $29.29 (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 Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for carpenters in Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 5,770 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do carpenters earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Iowa is $57,710, which is $1,600 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/registered-apprenticeship ↩︎
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)