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

"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 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

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 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.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Carpenter in Mississippi

How do I 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 take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an 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.

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

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]

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 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 2025.

Top Metros for Carpenters in Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Jackson	660	$49,330
Gulfport-Biloxi	530	$49,470
Hattiesburg	210	$48,360

Explore carpenter programs in Jackson, Gulfport, and Hattiesburg.

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.

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

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 accredited 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.

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)