What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Tennessee Department of Labor And Workforce Development - 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 Tennessee (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in Tennessee?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,830. Employment concentration in Tennessee is roughly 0.58 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 Tennessee?

Tennessee currently employs approximately 8,200 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 Tennessee?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Tennessee earn a prevailing wage of approximately $17.59 per hour in base pay plus $1.81 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $19.40 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Tennessee carpenters earn a median annual wage of $50,830 ($24.44/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 8,200 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.1% below the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,830 ($24.44/hr)
25th percentile: $46,520 per year
75th percentile: $59,900 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $66,450 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,460 per year
Workers employed in Tennessee: 8,200
Versus national median: -16.1% below the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.58 - this occupation is less concentrated in Tennessee than the national average

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

Tennessee employs about 8,200 carpenters earning a median $50,830 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Tennessee.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Tennessee

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	Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center	59.8	Contact school for pricing	$53,022	71%	—	172 mi
2	West Kentucky Community and Technical College	56.9	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$43,110	50%	Yes*	121 mi
3	Owensboro Community and Technical College	55.4	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$44,854	54%	Yes*	109 mi
4	Georgia Northwestern Technical College	53.6	$3,300 in-state / $5,868 out-of-state	$44,490	43%	Yes*	162 mi
5	Northwest Shoals Community College	51.7	$5,131 in-state / $9,001 out-of-state	$45,546	39%	Yes*	110 mi
6	Hopkinsville Community College	50.6	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$46,788	45%	Yes*	64 mi
7	Jefferson Community and Technical College	49.7	$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state	$50,106	35%	Yes*	155 mi
8	Vincennes University	48.2	$7,126 in-state / $16,858 out-of-state	$54,333	39%	Yes*	179 mi
9	Gadsden State Community College	47.7	$4,272 in-state / $7,368 out-of-state	$46,678	38%	Yes*	156 mi
10	Somerset Community College	47.1	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$43,252	43%	Yes*	135 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.

Tennessee employs approximately 8,200 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,830 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 Tennessee, 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 (Tennessee): $50,830 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Tennessee

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

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 Tennessee? The median annual wage for carpenters in Tennessee is $50,830 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,460 and experienced professionals can earn $66,450 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in Tennessee

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship TN
Address: 220 French Landing Dr., Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 532-0148
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Tennessee

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Tennessee earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Tennessee general wage determinations show approximately $17.59 per hour in base pay plus $1.81 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $19.40 (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 Tennessee

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	3,040	$55,770	$56,730	$40,120	$69,680
Knoxville	1,280	$50,400	$53,520	$36,600	$70,100
Memphis	1,240	$50,620	$53,370	$40,250	$64,780
Chattanooga	620	$50,760	$53,340	$37,310	$66,000
Kingsport-Bristol	390	$48,340	$50,040	$36,320	$64,270
Clarksville	290	$49,080	$52,690	$36,270	$65,060
Jackson	170	$47,950	$51,100	$36,400	$62,590
Johnson City	160	$47,920	$51,320	$38,400	$64,050
Morristown	130	$49,110	$52,710	$35,950	$66,830
Cleveland	80	$48,480	$53,490	$39,230	$64,410

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 Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 8,200 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do carpenters earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Tennessee is $50,830, which is $8,480 below the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In Tennessee

Best Trade Schools in Tennessee (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Tennessee Department of Labor And Workforce Development - 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)