What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Oregon?

In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division, 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 Oregon (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in Oregon?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,870. Employment concentration in Oregon is about 1.78 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Oregon currently employs approximately 15,110 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 Oregon?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Oregon earn a prevailing wage of approximately $52.62 per hour in base pay plus $16.81 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $69.43 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Oregon carpenters earn a median annual wage of $62,870 ($30.23/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 15,110 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.8% above the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,870 ($30.23/hr)
25th percentile: $50,450 per year
75th percentile: $93,380 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $106,360 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,800 per year
Workers employed in Oregon: 15,110
Versus national median: 3.8% above the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.78 - this occupation is more concentrated in Oregon than the national average

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

Oregon employs about 15,110 carpenters earning a median $62,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Oregon.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Oregon

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	Grays Harbor College	71.6	$5,593 in-state / $12,553 out-of-state	$46,936	39%	Yes*	113 mi
2	Walla Walla Community College	70.4	$5,279 in-state / $6,700 out-of-state	$56,719	38%	Yes*	215 mi
3	Spokane Community College	68.4	$5,461 in-state / $6,612 out-of-state	$52,567	33%	Yes*	293 mi
4	Edmonds College	67.5	$4,810 in-state / $10,875 out-of-state	$52,875	29%	Yes*	160 mi
5	Bates Technical College	65.2	$6,027 in-state / $12,165 out-of-state	Not reported	43%	Yes*	120 mi
6	Renton Technical College	63.3	$6,308 in-state / $7,369 out-of-state	$56,466	46%	Yes*	139 mi
7	Peninsula College	58.8	$4,718 in-state / $5,270 out-of-state	$44,056	37%	Yes*	182 mi
8	Green River College	56.8	$4,711 in-state / $5,263 out-of-state	$60,643	39%	—	126 mi
9	Seattle Central College	55.0	$5,184 in-state / $5,745 out-of-state	$60,072	32%	—	146 mi
10	Treasure Valley Community College	45.7	$6,345 in-state / $6,795 out-of-state	$45,354	37%	Yes*	298 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.

Oregon employs approximately 15,110 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,870 ¹. The state’s concentration of carpenter jobs is 1.78x 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 Oregon, 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 (Oregon): $62,870 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Oregon

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

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 Oregon? The median annual wage for carpenters in Oregon is $62,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,800 and experienced professionals can earn $106,360 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in Oregon

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Division, Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industries
Address: 1800 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (971) 245-3844
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Oregon

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Oregon earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Oregon general wage determinations show approximately $52.62 per hour in base pay plus $16.81 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $69.43 (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 Oregon

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	9,210	$73,710	$77,940	$47,440	$108,440
Salem	1,720	$59,730	$63,060	$37,360	$99,370
Bend	1,180	$61,640	$64,160	$33,010	$101,120
Medford	910	$57,930	$63,430	$39,790	$99,730
Eugene-Springfield	710	$62,590	$65,630	$44,650	$98,840
Albany	340	$57,080	$63,080	$45,690	$97,780
Corvallis	260	$63,290	$71,770	$48,610	$107,260
Grants Pass	140	$57,160	$62,010	$41,120	$99,990

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 Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 15,110 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do carpenters earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Oregon is $62,870, which is $3,560 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In Oregon

Best Trade Schools in Oregon (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Oregon

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship/pages/apprenticeship-opportunities.aspx ↩︎
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)