What does a Carpenter Apprentice do?

It is on-the-job training. You earn while you learn and are paid a wage from the first day you’re hired by a contractor. Apprentice wages are increased at regular intervals until their wages are up to 80 percent of the journeyman’s rate-typically the last year of training.
Any candidate applying for an apprenticeship must meet these prerequisites:

• Must have reached the age of 17.
• Must reside within the authority of the Apprenticeship Program.
• Must have successfully completed 2 years of required high school.
• Must be strong enough to do physical work.

What Types of Jobs Are Done by Carpenters?
Carpenters measure, level, saw and nail woods and other building materials. They install cabinets and insulation, acoustical ceilings, tile, siding, and much more. They work with several tools and materials to construct schools, houses, churches and resorts. They erect skyscrapers, hospitals, office buildings, and prisons, and construct bridges, tunnels and highways. Carpenters constitute the biggest single group of skilled workers in the country.

Does My High School Class Work Matter?
It’s possible for you to get a head start on enrolling in shop work in your school and becoming a carpenter by examining mathematics. Courses in mechanical drawing and industrial arts can help you determine whether you have an interest in this trade.
Wages
The starting wages for apprentices is usually between 30 and 50 percent of the wage experienced carpenters make, based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of May 2011, carpenters made an average of $44,330 per annum, or $21.31 per hour. For new apprentices, this breaks down to an average salary that may reach up to $22,165 annually or up to $10.66 per hour.

What Is a Millwright?
If you enjoy to work with precision devices and tools and machines, and have a keen eye for the best fit, you might consider being a millwright. Millwrights occasionally work to specifications requiring tolerances to a thousandth of an inch. Millwrights are an elite group of construction workers who work mainly in metal and with equipment and machines demanding precision. Carpenters are millwrights, but not all millwrights are carpenters.

Just How Do I Become a Professional Carpenter?

It’s great to be in this industry, but you have to work hard to get there. Your training will be done by local pros through an “apprenticeship” program. To make certain your training is the greatest in the state, a group of experienced contractors and union representatives be sure to earn an excellent wage at the same time and get the correct instruction. To begin, call your local carpenters union office to get extra information. Ask them the best way to become an “Apprentice” in the carpentry program.