Career comparison
Carpenter vs. Welder
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Carpenters earn more at the median ($60,580 vs. $53,750), while welders usually get to work faster (3–18 months of training). Carpenters build and repair frameworks, structures and finish work from wood and other materials. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Carpenter | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $60,580 ($29.12/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $40,410 – $99,910 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.9% (about as fast as average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 62,800 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | Journeyman carpenter (apprenticeship completion) | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Carpenters work on construction sites outdoors and indoors in all weather. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
What each job does
Carpenter
- Read blueprints and building plans
- Measure, cut and shape wood, plastic and other materials
- Frame walls, floors, roofs and stairs
- Install doors, windows, cabinets, trim and molding
- Build and remove concrete forms and scaffolding
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, working outdoors, and creative work. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose carpenter if…
- I enjoy building things and seeing the results
- I’m good with measurements and spatial thinking
- I don’t mind working outdoors in different weather
Choose welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the Carpenter fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, carpenter or welder?
Carpenters earn more at the median: $60,580 versus $53,750 for welders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Welders typically train faster (3–18 months) than carpenters (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects carpenters to grow +3.9% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for welders.