What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information.

How to Become a Carpenter in Mississippi (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in Mississippi?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,650. Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.59 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 Mississippi?

Mississippi currently employs approximately 2,950 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 Mississippi?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Mississippi earn a prevailing wage of approximately $16.13 per hour in base pay plus $0.00 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $16.13 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Mississippi carpenters earn a median annual wage of $48,650 ($23.39/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,950 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -19.7% below the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,650 ($23.39/hr)
25th percentile: $38,420 per year
75th percentile: $52,480 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $63,440 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,670 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 2,950
Versus national median: -19.7% below the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.59 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs about 2,950 carpenters earning a median $48,650 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Mississippi.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Mississippi

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	Southwest Mississippi Community College	64.8	$4,080 in-state / $6,780 out-of-state	$27,408	56%	Yes*	72 mi
2	Hinds Community College	53.6	$4,250 in-state / $7,300 out-of-state	$40,042	43%	Yes*	14 mi
3	Meridian Community College	50.6	$4,078 in-state / $6,478 out-of-state	$50,810	34%	Yes*	85 mi
4	East Central Community College	46.4	$4,160 in-state / $6,260 out-of-state	$36,389	36%	—	64 mi
5	Fletcher Technical Community College	45.6	$4,219	$53,749	30%	Yes*	180 mi
6	East Arkansas Community College	44.3	$3,300 in-state / $4,380 out-of-state	$42,176	51%	Yes*	192 mi
7	Coahoma Community College	44.1	$3,490	$31,140	41%	Yes*	137 mi
8	Baton Rouge Community College	43.7	$4,321	$45,313	31%	Yes*	140 mi
9	Delgado Community College	41.7	$4,279	$48,141	24%	Yes*	160 mi
10	South Louisiana Community College	40.6	$4,210	$45,336	30%	Yes*	181 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.

Mississippi employs approximately 2,950 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,650 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 Mississippi, 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 (Mississippi): $48,650 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Mississippi

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

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 Mississippi? The median annual wage for carpenters in Mississippi is $48,650 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,670 and experienced professionals can earn $63,440 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in Mississippi

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

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

Office: Mississippi Apprenticeship Program
Address: 1235 Echelon Pkwy, Jackson, MS 39213
Phone: (601) 321-6000
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Mississippi

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Mississippi earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Mississippi general wage determinations show approximately $16.13 per hour in base pay plus $0.00 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $16.13 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ³.

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 Mississippi

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), carpenters wages in Mississippi 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
Jackson	660	$49,330	$49,470	$36,440	$60,140
Gulfport-Biloxi	530	$49,470	$50,020	$36,540	$64,260
Hattiesburg	210	$48,360	$46,360	$31,660	$59,420

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 Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 2,950 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Mississippi? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Mississippi.

How much do carpenters earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Mississippi is $48,650, which is $10,660 below the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In Mississippi

Best Trade Schools in Mississippi (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)