What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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 New Jersey (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in New Jersey?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in New Jersey earned a median annual wage of approximately $64,010. Employment concentration in New Jersey is roughly 0.77 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 New Jersey?

New Jersey currently employs approximately 14,230 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 New Jersey?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in New Jersey earn a prevailing wage of approximately $57.42 per hour in base pay plus $59.25 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $116.67 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Jersey carpenters earn a median annual wage of $64,010 ($30.77/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 14,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 5.7% above the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $64,010 ($30.77/hr)
25th percentile: $51,220 per year
75th percentile: $80,430 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $121,490 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,680 per year
Workers employed in New Jersey: 14,230
Versus national median: 5.7% above the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in New Jersey than the national average

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

New Jersey employs about 14,230 carpenters earning a median $64,010 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New Jersey.

Compare Carpenter Schools in New Jersey

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	Williamson College of the Trades	81.5	$31,611	$79,194	83%	—	87 mi
2	Johnson College	61.2	$21,225	$51,602	55%	—	91 mi
3	Burlington County Institute of Technology-Adult Education	61.2	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	84%	—	60 mi
4	Orleans Technical College	60.4	Contact school for pricing	$48,804	90%	—	63 mi
5	Ocean County Vocational-Technical School	59.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,510	65%	—	52 mi
6	Delaware County Community College	50.1	$6,930 in-state / $15,540 out-of-state	$56,647	24%	Yes*	83 mi
7	Hudson County Community College	38.8	$5,384 in-state / $9,248 out-of-state	$44,020	26%	Yes*	6 mi
8	Philadelphia Technician Training	19.7	Contact school for pricing	$33,267	50%	—	69 mi
9	Lehigh Career & Technical Institute	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	75 mi
10	Triangle Tech Inc-Bethlehem	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$55,189	77%	—	66 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.

New Jersey employs approximately 14,230 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $64,010 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 New Jersey, 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 (New Jersey): $64,010 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in New Jersey

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

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 New Jersey? The median annual wage for carpenters in New Jersey is $64,010 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,680 and experienced professionals can earn $121,490 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in New Jersey

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. New Jersey’s apprenticeship program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Cape May County Technical Schools
Address: 188 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: (609) 380-0200
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in New Jersey

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in New Jersey earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent New Jersey general wage determinations show approximately $57.42 per hour in base pay plus $59.25 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $116.67 (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 New Jersey

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	34,210	$74,300	$80,560	$46,860	$123,810
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	14,260	$61,780	$65,930	$45,690	$98,470
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	1,390	$59,540	$61,870	$38,960	$86,610
Atlantic City-Hammonton	970	$60,840	$67,300	$38,160	$116,400
Trenton-Princeton	610	$65,690	$77,380	$44,700	$121,540
Vineland	180	$63,440	$75,310	$40,540	$117,270

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 New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 14,230 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New Jersey? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New Jersey. You can also contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in New Jersey is $64,010, which is $4,700 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In New Jersey

Best Trade Schools in New Jersey (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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)