Carpenter: 7 Things You Should Know (Must Read)

From simple houses to skyscrapers, carpenters are behind the construction of every building you’ve ever seen.

As a result, they play an important role in the construction industry.

Keeping this in mind, it’s safe to say, carpentry can be a rewarding career. Here are seven things you should know about carpentry before pursuing it.

Worth Being a Carpenter?

Yes, it is worth being a carpenter. Carpentry is often seen as a common profession with little to no job benefits. However, the reality is contrary to this misconception.

Carpentry is one of the most popular careers, and for a good reason. So, when it comes to asking whether or not it’s worth pursuing carpentry, the answer is yes, without a doubt.

A successful career in carpentry can offer you all you can ask for from a dream job.

From financial stability to satisfaction and job security, there are countless benefits of becoming a carpenter.

On top of that, carpenters enjoy an exciting career field as well. As a carpenter, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of different workplaces in countless industries.

You will never be short on job opportunities.

Hard Being a Carpenter?

Yes, being a Carpenter is hard, since carpenters often find themselves lifting heavy objects and working with heavy machinery in exhausting workplace environments. What’s worse is that this physically demanding work can often continue for hours on end, leading to fatigue and weakness.

Labor-intensive work coupled with the mental calculations a carpenter has to perform, carpentry can be mentally challenging as well.

Consequently, mental stress can become an issue, making the job tough. However, the demanding nature of carpentry can vary from career to career.

Many companies give special attention to the health of carpenters and offer safe working conditions for easy work.

Moreover, as you continue to advance in your career, the job will gradually become less demanding.

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Hard Becoming a Carpenter?

It is not too hard to become a Carpenter, one of the best things about becoming a carpenter is that it’s relatively easy. Unlike other education courses, carpentry programs are not only easy to understand but can also be quite fun.

While you will be taught theory in the classroom, most of your carpentry training will take place in the lab or carpentry shop.

As a result, you will spend most of your time gaining practical experience while using tools, construction material, and building through blueprints.

However, an enjoyable and easy education is not the only thing that makes carpentry easy to pursue.

Unlike other courses, carpentry courses tend to be cheaper, eliminating the need for student loans.

In fact, instead of paying tuition fees, carpentry students are paid during their training for the work they do.

How To Become a Carpenter?

If you’re interested in becoming a carpenter, the first step is to ensure you have a high school diploma.

If you’re still in high school, it’s best to take classes such as math, English, and mechanical drawing.

Once you’ve done so, you can start your apprenticeship, where you will train under an experienced carpenter and gain the skills and knowledge needed to get a rewarding job.

However, before doing so, it’s best to gain some experience by completing small training courses or by volunteering.

This will make your apprenticeship easier, as you will be more prepared and skilled. Furthermore, alongside completing an apprenticeship, you can also get an associate degree in carpentry and upgrade your qualifications.

Overall, the entire process of becoming a carpenter can take up to six years, excluding your time in high school.

Typical Day of a Carpenter?

Carpenters typically spend their day at a construction site. They usually spend their time building, repairing, and installing wooden construction objects such as frames and walls. To do so, carpenters make excessive use of building plans and drawings.

Doing so allows them to find out what materials to use and how to install them in place. This studying phase is then followed by cutting and shaping wood into construction objects for use.

However, the job of a carpenter can vary greatly depending on the construction project.

For instance, in a particular project, a carpenter may only be in charge of finding out what materials to use and where to buy them from. Furthermore, different types of carpenters handle different tasks.

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Do Carpenters Get Paid Well?

Yes, Carpenters do get paid well, with the average base salary of carpenters being around $48,000. While this is a decent salary, it can grow to a lot more as you advance in your career.

As you gain experience and build up your skill level, you will be offered jobs with better pay and job benefits.

Focusing on a specific type of carpentry can also help you gain access to highly paid careers.

Moreover, joining a carpenter’s union can improve your salary significantly.

What’s best is that carpentry students start earning while they are still completing their education.

As a result, they have a significant amount of money saved up as they enter their professional lives, while students of other professions are often drowning in debt.

Carpentry A Dying Profession

Considering its role in the construction sector, carpentry is not a dying profession. As the construction sector continues to grow, so does the demand for carpenters.

At times the demand for carpenters can reduce, but it’s never low enough to keep you unemployed.

Carpenters can easily find rewarding jobs right after completing their education.

But what’s best about carpentry is that it has stability in its growth.

Carpenters will always be needed by construction companies to build their projects. So, as a carpenter, you won’t have to worry about losing your job in the future.

Pros and Cons of Carpentry Career

To better understand the career of a carpenter, it’s best to know its pros and cons. Here are nine pros that you might find useful.

The opportunity to work in exciting workplaces.
Career opportunities in a vast array of industries.
Minimal requirements for education and easy coursework.
Cheap education and decent salaries for students while they are still learning.
High wages can increase with experience and career advancement.
Carpenters gain universal repair skills that can be applied to their personal lives.
The transferable skills of carpenters make it easy for them to jump from one industry to another.
Carpenters can start their own business with ease due to their advanced skill set.
Carpenters will never be out of demand due to their importance in construction.

Here are nine cons to help you see the other side of carpentry.

Carpentry can be physically and mentally challenging for many individuals.
physical and mental issues such as musculoskeletal disorders and stress can arise amongst carpenters.
Deadly injuries can occur at the workplace if safety precautions are not taken.
Some companies offer dangerous working areas.
The job outlook can decrease.
Gaining experience for better jobs can take several years.
Working hours can get long, affecting your work-life balance.
You need to maintain your fitness to keep your job.
Older carpenters can suffer due to health issues and lose their job.

Final Thoughts

For anyone interested in the construction sector, carpentry might be the perfect career to pursue.

As a carpenter, you can enjoy high salaries, good job security, and a successful professional life with countless opportunities.

While carpentry can have its downsides, so does every other career. So, focus on the benefits carpentry can provide you and start preparing for a secure future.

References

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm