How to Become a Carpenter in West Virginia (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

West Virginia employs about 3,670 carpenters earning a median $48,710 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in West Virginia.

Compare Carpenter Schools in West Virginia

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
157.7$2,668 in-state / $8,812 out-of-state$43,8566%Yes*145 mi
256.1$5,488 in-state / $11,224 out-of-state$52,68128%Yes*133 mi
354.9$2,626 in-state / $8,770 out-of-state$43,48446%Yes*168 mi
452.5$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$42,97056%Yes*119 mi
551.0$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state$48,18143%Yes*158 mi
648.9$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$45,68348%Yes*114 mi
748.1$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$42,46947%Yes*121 mi
847.3$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$39,69238%Yes*77 mi
940.9$4,842 in-state / $12,583 out-of-state$54,51924%Yes*169 mi
10Not ratedContact school for pricing$41,698Not reported—170 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.

West Virginia employs approximately 3,670 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,710 1. The state’s concentration of carpenter jobs is 1.21x 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 West Virginia, 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 (West Virginia): $48,710 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in West Virginia

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

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 West Virginia? The median annual wage for carpenters in West Virginia is $48,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,900 and experienced professionals can earn $70,060 or more 1.

How to Become a Carpenter in West Virginia

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most West Virginia training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in West Virginia that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to carpenters in West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. West Virginia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: West Virginia Community and Technical College System
  • Address: 1018 Kanawha Blvd E., Charleston, WV 25301
  • Phone: (304) 558-0265
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in West Virginia

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in West Virginia earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent West Virginia general wage determinations show approximately $24.19 per hour in base pay plus $16.23 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $40.42 (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 West Virginia

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria13,280$60,800$66,790$47,150$90,590
Huntington-Ashland780$52,000$54,320$35,850$70,510
Morgantown450$49,160$51,530$36,420$70,700
Charleston370$49,060$51,540$33,930$71,190
Hagerstown-Martinsburg350$56,600$53,970$38,390$70,550
Winchester270$50,180$53,410$38,300$74,720
Beckley250$48,000$48,380$33,210$69,040
Wheeling190$50,120$52,980$37,250$70,560
Parkersburg-Vienna170$47,090$48,510$35,710$65,970
Weirton-Steubenville160$58,240$58,340$38,170$75,600

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 West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 3,670 carpenters 1. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in West Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in West Virginia. You can also contact the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in West Virginia is $48,710, which is $10,600 below the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data 1.

In West Virginia

Top local programs

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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. Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships: https://workforcewv.org/images/files/job-seekers/REGISTERED_STATEWIDE_APPRENTICESHIP_SPONSORS.pdf ↩︎

  4. 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)