Construction Carpenters

Wages
In 2021, the average annual wage in a Alabama was $40,410 with most people making between $28,950 and $58,430.
Wages by Industry
  • Residential Building Construction $41,010.00
  • Nonresidential Building Construction $48,230.00
  • Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors $41,280.00
  • Building Finishing Contractors $45,850.00
  • Employment Services $40,120.00
  • Other Wood Product Manufacturing $33,880.00
Education Required
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Common Majors
  • Carpentry/Carpenter
About the job

Construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, using carpenter’s hand tools and power tools.


What you'll do
    • Apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative paneling to ceilings or walls.
    • Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
    • Construct forms or chutes for pouring concrete.
    • Cover subfloors with building paper to keep out moisture and lay hardwood, parquet, or wood-strip-block floors by nailing floors to subfloor or cementing them to mastic or asphalt base.
    • Fill cracks or other defects in plaster or plasterboard and sand patch, using patching plaster, trowel, and sanding tool.
    • Maintain records, document actions, and present written progress reports.
    • Perform minor plumbing, welding, or concrete mixing work.
    • Prepare cost estimates for clients or employers.
    • Select and order lumber or other required materials.
    • Work with or remove hazardous material.
Things you need to know
    • Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Abilities you'll need to have
    • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
    • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
    • Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
    • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
    • Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
    • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
    • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.