What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Nebraska?

In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - 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 Nebraska (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in Nebraska?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,320. Employment concentration in Nebraska is about 1.29 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for carpenters in Nebraska?

Nebraska currently employs approximately 5,710 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 Nebraska?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Nebraska earn a prevailing wage of approximately $19.35 per hour in base pay plus $4.29 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $23.64 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Nebraska carpenters earn a median annual wage of $50,320 ($24.19/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,710 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.9% below the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,320 ($24.19/hr)
25th percentile: $45,270 per year
75th percentile: $62,580 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $72,800 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,920 per year
Workers employed in Nebraska: 5,710
Versus national median: -16.9% below the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.29 - this occupation is more concentrated in Nebraska than the national average

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

Nebraska employs about 5,710 carpenters earning a median $50,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Nebraska.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Nebraska

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. 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	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Grand River Technical School	74.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,221	89%	—	160 mi
2	Washburn Institute of Technology	71.0	Contact school for pricing	$56,774	66%	Yes*	153 mi
3	Iowa Lakes Community College	59.8	Contact school for pricing	$47,158	Not reported	Yes*	158 mi
4	Manhattan Area Technical College	58.6	Contact school for pricing	$57,918	70%	—	147 mi
5	Western Iowa Tech Community College	57.6	Contact school for pricing	$47,713	44%	Yes*	87 mi
6	Southwestern Community College	57.2	$8,064 - $16,951	$51,650	56%	Yes*	82 mi
7	Iowa Central Community College	54.0	Contact school for pricing	$46,682	Not reported	Yes*	123 mi
8	Des Moines Area Community College	50.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,817	37%	Yes*	124 mi
9	Highland Community College	48.1	Contact school for pricing	$43,261	39%	Yes*	102 mi
10	Metropolitan Community College Area	46.7	Contact school for pricing	$53,376	27%	Yes*	0 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.

Nebraska employs approximately 5,710 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,320 ¹. The state’s concentration of carpenter jobs is 1.29x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Nebraska, 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 (Nebraska): $50,320 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Nebraska

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

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 Nebraska? The median annual wage for carpenters in Nebraska is $50,320 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,920 and experienced professionals can earn $72,800 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in Nebraska

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: Omaha Field Office
Address: 222 South 15th Street, Omaha, NE 68102-1608
Phone: (515) 284-4632
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Nebraska

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Nebraska earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Nebraska general wage determinations show approximately $19.35 per hour in base pay plus $4.29 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $23.64 (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 Nebraska

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), carpenters wages in Nebraska 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
Lincoln	1,020	$49,910	$53,300	$39,150	$69,400
Sioux City	350	$51,100	$53,480	$35,730	$71,740
Grand Island	230	$48,350	$50,830	$36,030	$65,590

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 Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 5,710 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do carpenters earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Nebraska is $50,320, which is $8,990 below the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In Nebraska

Best Trade Schools in Nebraska (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
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)