What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Ohio?

In Ohio, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Ohio Office of 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 Ohio (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in Ohio?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Ohio earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,810. Employment concentration in Ohio 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 Ohio?

Ohio currently employs approximately 18,450 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 Ohio?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Ohio earn a prevailing wage of approximately $36.29 per hour in base pay plus $23.79 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $60.08 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Ohio carpenters earn a median annual wage of $60,810 ($29.24/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 18,450 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.4% above the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,810 ($29.24/hr)
25th percentile: $48,720 per year
75th percentile: $75,860 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $81,140 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,290 per year
Workers employed in Ohio: 18,450
Versus national median: 0.4% above the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in Ohio than the national average

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

Ohio employs about 18,450 carpenters earning a median $60,810 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Ohio.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Ohio

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	Columbus State Community College	56.1	$5,488 in-state / $11,224 out-of-state	$52,681	28%	Yes*	1 mi
2	Maysville Community and Technical College	52.5	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$42,970	56%	Yes*	102 mi
3	Macomb Community College	51.8	$3,660 in-state / $8,370 out-of-state	$50,529	18%	Yes*	176 mi
4	Bluegrass Community and Technical College	51.0	$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state	$48,181	43%	Yes*	156 mi
5	Ivy Tech Community College	49.2	$5,154 in-state / $9,935 out-of-state	$53,369	40%	Yes*	168 mi
6	Oakland Community College	48.9	$3,020 in-state / $5,560 out-of-state	$53,677	21%	Yes*	186 mi
7	Cuyahoga Community College District	47.6	$3,249 in-state / $7,249 out-of-state	$49,698	31%	Yes*	126 mi
8	Big Sandy Community and Technical College	47.3	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$39,692	38%	Yes*	158 mi
9	Community College of Allegheny County	40.9	$4,842 in-state / $12,583 out-of-state	$54,519	24%	Yes*	161 mi
10	Triangle Tech Inc-Pittsburgh	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$41,698	Not reported	—	161 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.

Ohio employs approximately 18,450 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,810 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 Ohio, 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 (Ohio): $60,810 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Ohio

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

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 Ohio? The median annual wage for carpenters in Ohio is $60,810 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,290 and experienced professionals can earn $81,140 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in Ohio

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services - ApprenticeOhio
Phone: (614) 466-6282
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Ohio

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Ohio earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Ohio general wage determinations show approximately $36.29 per hour in base pay plus $23.79 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $60.08 (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 Ohio

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Ohio

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Cincinnati	4,610	$60,110	$62,110	$44,180	$79,750
Columbus	3,620	$66,480	$67,650	$47,270	$82,630
Cleveland	3,280	$60,650	$65,210	$43,610	$86,870
Akron	980	$61,070	$63,740	$43,570	$79,160
Toledo	980	$61,070	$62,580	$43,260	$79,370
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek	950	$58,330	$57,510	$36,710	$76,960
Huntington-Ashland	780	$52,000	$54,320	$35,850	$70,510
Youngstown-Warren	460	$56,970	$58,660	$37,080	$80,270
Canton-Massillon	380	$56,530	$58,050	$36,270	$79,110
Wheeling	190	$50,120	$52,980	$37,250	$70,560
Weirton-Steubenville	160	$58,240	$58,340	$38,170	$75,600
Mansfield	150	$57,750	$60,350	$39,180	$76,420
Sandusky	140	$57,560	$57,420	$37,810	$74,450
Lima	130	$53,800	$69,810	$39,350	$120,310
Springfield	60	$48,380	$54,040	$34,430	$74,180

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 Ohio? Ohio currently employs approximately 18,450 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do carpenters earn in Ohio compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Ohio is $60,810, which is $1,500 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In Ohio

Ohio Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Ohio

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Ohio Office of Apprenticeship: http://jfs.ohio.gov/apprenticeship/Apprenticeship-Opportunities.stm ↩︎
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)