How to Become A Carpenter in Oklahoma

Oklahoma employs approximately 3,820 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,910 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 Oklahoma, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Carpenter in Oklahoma

How do I become a carpenter in Oklahoma? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for carpenters in Oklahoma.

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 Oklahoma? The median annual wage for carpenters in Oklahoma is $46,910 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,670 and experienced professionals can earn $64,940 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 (Oklahoma): $46,910 per year 1

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in Oklahoma

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Oklahoma CareerTech
  • Address: 1500 West 7th Ave., Stillwater, OK 74074
  • Phone: (405) 231-4338
  • Email: [email protected]

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in Oklahoma

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Oklahoma

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), carpenters wages in Oklahoma vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Oklahoma City1,420$48,940$53,110$36,260$74,880
Tulsa1,320$46,810$48,610$37,770$60,350
Fort Smith240$42,420$45,080$33,760$62,500
Lawton80$50,400$61,110$35,460$124,130

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 Oklahoma

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Oklahoma City1,420$48,940
Tulsa1,320$46,810
Lawton80$50,400

Explore carpenter programs in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Lawton.

Federal Prevailing Wage in Oklahoma

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Oklahoma earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Oklahoma general wage determinations show approximately $14.96 per hour in base pay plus $0.00 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $14.96 (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 Oklahoma

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for carpenters in Oklahoma? Oklahoma currently employs approximately 3,820 carpenters 1. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Oklahoma? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Oklahoma.

How much do carpenters earn in Oklahoma compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Oklahoma is $46,910, which is $12,400 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


  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. 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)