How long does woodworker training take in District of Columbia?

Most paths into the woodworker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for woodworkers in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Woodworker in District of Columbia (2026)

Q: What is the job outlook for woodworkers in District of Columbia?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034. State employment data for District of Columbia is not separately published for this occupation.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

U.S. employment of woodworkers is projected to change -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections). Most woodworkers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in District of Columbia.

Key Facts

Projected growth: -1.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Woodworker Schools in District of Columbia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. 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	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	67.0	Contact school for pricing	$57,788	Not reported	—	87 mi
2	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	65.4	$8,772 - $26,944	$56,927	47%	Yes*	257 mi
3	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$42,844	Not reported	Yes*	265 mi
4	Bucks County Community College	60.0	$5,683 - $13,963	$52,637	30%	Yes*	143 mi
5	Ocean County Vocational-Technical School	59.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,510	68%	—	168 mi
6	Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center	55.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,527	72%	—	133 mi
7	Central Piedmont Community College	52.6	Contact school for pricing	$48,441	Not reported	Yes*	330 mi
8	Savannah Technical College	48.8	Contact school for pricing	$44,293	Not reported	Yes*	528 mi
9	Berks Career & Technology Center	44.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	70%	—	120 mi
10	Hocking College	44.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,764	Not reported	Yes*	281 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.

District of Columbia offers career opportunities for woodworkers. This page covers how to become a woodworker in District of Columbia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Woodworker Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), cabinetmakers and bench carpenters wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	840	$53,790	$54,386	$37,852	$72,064

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 .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path

Quick Answers About How to Become a Woodworker in District of Columbia

How to become a woodworker in District of Columbia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for woodworkers in District of Columbia.

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.

How to Become a Woodworker in District of Columbia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most District of Columbia training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in District of Columbia 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 woodworkers in District of Columbia before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for woodworkers in District of Columbia? Nationally, woodworker employment is projected to grow -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 ¹.

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

In District of Columbia

Best Trade Schools in Washington, DC (2026)

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

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 - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎

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)