How to Become a Carpenter in Wisconsin (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wisconsin employs about 13,880 carpenters earning a median $61,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Wisconsin.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Wisconsin

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
167.6$5,040 in-state / $7,283 out-of-state$55,85765%Yes*90 mi
266.9$4,819 in-state / $7,084 out-of-state$53,77158%Yes*58 mi
362.5$4,960 in-state / $7,233 out-of-state$54,88751%Yes*103 mi
462.3$4,872 in-state / $7,115 out-of-state$57,76444%Yes*18 mi
559.6$3,504 in-state / $10,477 out-of-state$51,67839%Yes*90 mi
659.1$4,977 in-state / $7,255 out-of-state$55,20729%Yes*72 mi
756.0$4,956 in-state / $7,199 out-of-state$54,14251%Yes*30 mi
854.9$5,070 in-state / $15,330 out-of-state$52,70129%Yes*78 mi
952.5$5,184 in-state / $7,427 out-of-state$52,34625%Yes*1 mi
1037.3$4,590 in-state / $15,150 out-of-state$43,24731%Yes*88 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.

Wisconsin employs approximately 13,880 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,660 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 Wisconsin, 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 (Wisconsin): $61,660 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Wisconsin

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

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 Wisconsin? The median annual wage for carpenters in Wisconsin is $61,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,110 and experienced professionals can earn $93,040 or more 1.

How to Become a Carpenter in Wisconsin

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards
  • Address: 201 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53707
  • Phone: (608) 733-3930
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Wisconsin

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Wisconsin earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Wisconsin general wage determinations show approximately $45.46 per hour in base pay plus $31.52 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $76.98 (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 Wisconsin

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington10,200$74,060$74,570$49,920$100,830
Milwaukee-Waukesha3,310$63,910$68,240$47,230$94,180
Madison2,320$63,480$68,120$46,670$92,430
Green Bay860$60,320$62,450$43,070$84,260
Appleton700$62,490$67,500$45,670$96,290
Oshkosh-Neenah650$84,430$75,310$48,660$100,270
Duluth620$60,520$63,590$44,350$90,030
La Crosse-Onalaska450$58,950$62,240$45,930$83,600
Wausau370$49,990$56,090$40,230$79,010
Eau Claire360$59,090$62,550$41,770$84,380
Janesville-Beloit360$75,390$71,100$39,990$98,850
Fond du Lac340$62,550$67,600$45,480$98,840
Racine-Mount Pleasant320$60,920$65,870$45,720$93,150
Kenosha310$60,120$62,220$43,820$84,950
Sheboygan230$62,760$65,740$38,920$93,160

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 Wisconsin? Wisconsin currently employs approximately 13,880 carpenters 1. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do carpenters earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Wisconsin is $61,660, which is $2,350 above the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data 1.

In Wisconsin

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Wisconsin

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. Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeships: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/appr_stats/active_wtt.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)