How to Become a Carpenter in Missouri (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Missouri employs about 14,410 carpenters earning a median $60,840 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Missouri.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Missouri

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
174.7Contact school for pricing$47,22189%—73 mi
271.0$8,880$56,77468%Yes*63 mi
358.6$9,844$57,91874%—109 mi
457.2$8,064 in-state / $8,316 out-of-state$51,65059%Yes*137 mi
555.0$5,780$55,33834%Yes*110 mi
650.7$3,600 in-state / $4,680 out-of-state$42,87338%Yes*154 mi
749.9$3,390 in-state / $3,840 out-of-state$40,40835%Yes*89 mi
848.1$4,080$43,26139%Yes*64 mi
945.4Contact school for pricing$51,90978%—156 mi
1044.4$3,210 in-state / $6,945 out-of-state$50,54542%Yes*9 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.

Missouri employs approximately 14,410 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,840 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 Missouri, 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 (Missouri): $60,840 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Missouri

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

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 Missouri? The median annual wage for carpenters in Missouri is $60,840 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,700 and experienced professionals can earn $96,310 or more 1.

How to Become a Carpenter in Missouri

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Missouri’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - On-the-Job Training & Apprenticeship 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Missouri Division of Workforce Development
  • Address: 3315 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, MO 65102-0599
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Missouri

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Missouri earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Missouri general wage determinations show approximately $31.51 per hour in base pay plus $22.25 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $53.76 (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 Missouri

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
St. Louis7,210$70,990$71,600$45,000$99,550
Kansas City4,540$61,810$67,500$44,950$96,410
Springfield920$52,000$57,140$36,330$85,040
Columbia510$56,160$57,900$36,130$87,910
Jefferson City430$57,030$59,640$38,940$87,370
Joplin300$48,540$54,890$32,000$84,880
St. Joseph220$60,150$63,710$37,880$89,350
Cape Girardeau180$63,740$65,450$43,160$90,980

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 Missouri? Missouri currently employs approximately 14,410 carpenters 1. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Missouri? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Missouri. You can also contact the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - On-the-Job Training & Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in Missouri compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Missouri is $60,840, which is $1,530 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data 1.

In Missouri

Top local programs

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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. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - On-the-Job Training & 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)