Carpentry

Alternative Job Titles for Carpenters

• Bridge Carpenter
• Cabinet Maker
• Carpenter
• Concrete Carpenter
• Construction Carpenter
• Form Carpenter
• Framer
• Maintenance Carpenter
• Rough Carpenter
• Scaffold Builder

Job Tasks and Activities for Carpenters

• Anchor and brace forms and other structures in place, using nails, bolts, anchor rods, steel cables, planks, wedges, and timbers.
• Apply decorative or textured finishes or coverings.
• Apply material to fill gaps in surfaces.
• 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.
• Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
• Assemble products or production equipment.
• Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
• Bore boltholes in timber, masonry or concrete walls, using power drill.
• Build construction forms or molds.
• Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
• Build sleds from logs and timbers for use in hauling camp buildings and machinery through wooded areas.
• Clean work sites.
• Construct forms or chutes for pouring concrete.
• Coordinate construction project activities.
• 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.
• Cut wood components for installation.
• Dig holes or trenches.
• Dig or direct digging of post holes and set poles to support structures.
• Direct construction or extraction personnel.
• Drill holes in construction materials.
• Erect scaffolding or ladders for assembling structures above ground level.
• Estimate construction project costs.
• Examine structural timbers and supports to detect decay, and replace timbers as required, using hand tools, nuts, and bolts.
• Fill cracks or other defects in plaster or plasterboard and sand patch, using patching plaster, trowel, and sanding tool.
• Finish surfaces of woodwork or wallboard in houses or buildings, using paint, hand tools, or paneling.
• Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
• Inspect ceiling or floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass, or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.
• Inspect work sites to determine condition or necessary repairs.
• Install building fixtures.
• Install carpet or flooring.
• Install doors or windows.
• Install rough door and window frames, subflooring, fixtures, or temporary supports in structures undergoing construction or repair.
• Install safety or support equipment.
• Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
• Install trim or paneling.
• Install wooden structural components.
• Maintain job records and schedule work crew.
• Maintain records, document actions, and present written progress reports.
• Mark reference points on construction materials.
• Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
• Measure materials or objects for installation or assembly.
• Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
• Order construction or extraction materials or equipment.
• Perform minor plumbing, welding, or concrete mixing work.
• Position construction forms or molds.
• Position safety or support equipment.
• Prepare cost estimates for clients or employers.
• Prepare hazardous waste for processing or disposal.
• Prepare operational reports.
• Record operational or environmental data.
• Remove damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools.
• Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
• Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
• Select and order lumber or other required materials.
• Select construction materials.
• Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
• Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
• Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
• Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
• Weld metal components.
• Work with or remove hazardous material.

Interests for Carpenters

• Realistic
  Designing, building, or repairing equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors.
• Conventional
  Following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting.

Skills for Carpenters

In order of importance

• Monitoring
  Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
  Importance: 60/100
• Critical Thinking
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  Importance: 60/100
• Active Listening
  Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  Importance: 60/100
• Coordination
  Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
  Importance: 56/100
• Quality Control Analysis
  Testing how well a product or service works.
  Importance: 53/100
• Reading Comprehension
  Reading work-related information.
  Importance: 53/100
• Speaking
  Talking to others.
  Importance: 53/100
• Complex Problem Solving
  Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  Importance: 50/100
• Active Learning
  Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  Importance: 50/100
• Time Management
  Managing your time and the time of other people.
  Importance: 50/100
• Judgment and Decision Making
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  Importance: 50/100
• Mathematics
  Using math to solve problems.
  Importance: 50/100
• Writing
  Writing things for co-workers or customers.
  Importance: 47/100
• Operation and Control
  Using equipment or systems.
  Importance: 47/100
• Operations Monitoring
  Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
  Importance: 47/100
• Equipment Selection
  Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
  Importance: 44/100
• Service Orientation
  Looking for ways to help people.
  Importance: 44/100
• Learning Strategies
  Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
  Importance: 44/100
• Social Perceptiveness
  Understanding people's reactions.
  Importance: 44/100
• Management of Personnel Resources
  Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
  Importance: 41/100
• Instructing
  Teaching people how to do something.
  Importance: 41/100
• Systems Evaluation
  Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
  Importance: 41/100
• Systems Analysis
  Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
  Importance: 38/100
• Negotiation
  Bringing people together to solve differences.
  Importance: 38/100
• Persuasion
  Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
  Importance: 38/100
• Management of Material Resources
  Managing equipment and materials.
  Importance: 35/100
• Troubleshooting
  Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
  Importance: 35/100
• Repairing
  Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
  Importance: 35/100
• Installation
  Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
  Importance: 31/100
• Equipment Maintenance
  Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
  Importance: 31/100
• Management of Financial Resources
  Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
  Importance: 22/100
• Operations Analysis
  Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
  Importance: 19/100
• Technology Design
  Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
  Importance: 19/100
• Programming
  Writing computer programs.
  Importance: 13/100
• Science
  Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
  Importance: 10/100

Knowledge for Carpenters

In order of importance

• 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.
  Importance: 92/100
• Mathematics
  Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  Importance: 73/100
• Administration and Management
  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  Importance: 73/100
• Design
  Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  Importance: 72/100
• Engineering and Technology
  Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  Importance: 65/100
• Public Safety and Security
  Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  Importance: 62/100
• Mechanical
  Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  Importance: 58/100
• Education and Training
  Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  Importance: 56/100
• Customer and Personal Service
  Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  Importance: 52/100
• Physics
  Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  Importance: 51/100
• English Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
  Importance: 48/100
• Production and Processing
  Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  Importance: 48/100
• Transportation
  Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  Importance: 43/100
• Computers and Electronics
  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  Importance: 39/100
• Administrative
  Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  Importance: 38/100
• Personnel and Human Resources
  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  Importance: 38/100
• Economics and Accounting
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  Importance: 33/100
• Telecommunications
  Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  Importance: 31/100
• Chemistry
  Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  Importance: 30/100
• Sales and Marketing
  Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  Importance: 30/100
• Law and Government
  Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  Importance: 27/100
• Communications and Media
  Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  Importance: 26/100
• Psychology
  Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  Importance: 26/100
• Geography
  Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  Importance: 22/100
• Foreign Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  Importance: 19/100
• Medicine and Dentistry
  Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  Importance: 16/100
• Sociology and Anthropology
  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  Importance: 16/100
• Therapy and Counseling
  Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  Importance: 15/100
• Philosophy and Theology
  Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  Importance: 15/100
• Food Production
  Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  Importance: 12/100
• History and Archeology
  Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  Importance: 12/100
• Biology
  Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  Importance: 9/100
• Fine Arts
  Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  Importance: 8/100

Physical Abilities for Carpenters

In order of importance

• Problem Sensitivity
  Noticing when problems happen.
  Importance: 72/100
• Visualization
  Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
  Importance: 72/100
• Near Vision
  Seeing details up close.
  Importance: 66/100
• Finger Dexterity
  Putting together small parts with your fingers.
  Importance: 66/100
• Manual Dexterity
  Holding or moving items with your hands.
  Importance: 66/100
• Information Ordering
  Ordering or arranging things.
  Importance: 63/100
• Trunk Strength
  Using your lower back and stomach.
  Importance: 63/100
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  Keeping your arm or hand steady.
  Importance: 63/100
• Deductive Reasoning
  Using rules to solve problems.
  Importance: 63/100
• Static Strength
  Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
  Importance: 60/100
• Multilimb Coordination
  Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
  Importance: 60/100
• Far Vision
  Seeing details that are far away.
  Importance: 60/100
• Oral Comprehension
  Listening and understanding what people say.
  Importance: 60/100
• Oral Expression
  Communicating by speaking.
  Importance: 60/100
• Inductive Reasoning
  Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
  Importance: 56/100
• Category Flexibility
  Grouping things in different ways.
  Importance: 53/100
• Control Precision
  Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
  Importance: 53/100
• Selective Attention
  Paying attention to something without being distracted.
  Importance: 53/100
• Reaction Time
  Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
  Importance: 53/100
• Speech Clarity
  Speaking clearly.
  Importance: 50/100
• Explosive Strength
  Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
  Importance: 50/100
• Perceptual Speed
  Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
  Importance: 50/100
• Written Comprehension
  Reading and understanding what is written.
  Importance: 50/100
• Speech Recognition
  Recognizing spoken words.
  Importance: 50/100
• Flexibility of Closure
  Seeing hidden patterns.
  Importance: 50/100
• Originality
  Creating new and original ideas.
  Importance: 47/100
• Mathematical Reasoning
  Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
  Importance: 47/100
• Auditory Attention
  Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
  Importance: 47/100
• Dynamic Strength
  Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
  Importance: 47/100
• Response Orientation
  Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
  Importance: 44/100
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
  Importance: 44/100
• Depth Perception
  Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
  Importance: 44/100
• Number Facility
  Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
  Importance: 44/100
• Time Sharing
  Doing two or more things at the same time.
  Importance: 44/100
• Written Expression
  Communicating by writing.
  Importance: 44/100
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  Keeping your balance or staying upright.
  Importance: 44/100
• Extent Flexibility
  Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Importance: 44/100
• Spatial Orientation
  Knowing where things are around you.
  Importance: 41/100
• Fluency of Ideas
  Coming up with lots of ideas.
  Importance: 41/100
• Hearing Sensitivity
  Telling the difference between sounds.
  Importance: 41/100
• Rate Control
  Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
  Importance: 41/100
• Visual Color Discrimination
  Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
  Importance: 41/100
• Stamina
  Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
  Importance: 41/100
• Speed of Closure
  Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
  Importance: 38/100
• Memorization
  Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
  Importance: 38/100
• Gross Body Coordination
  Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
  Importance: 35/100
• Peripheral Vision
  Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
  Importance: 28/100
• Sound Localization
  Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
  Importance: 22/100
• Glare Sensitivity
  Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
  Importance: 22/100
• Night Vision
  Seeing at night or under low light.
  Importance: 19/100
• Speed of Limb Movement
  Quickly moving your arms and legs.
  Importance: 19/100
• Dynamic Flexibility
  Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Importance: 16/100

Tools and Technology used by Carpenters

• Levels
• Power saws
• Ladders
• Screwdrivers
• Tape measures
• Guide jig
• Jacks
• Squares
• Planes
• Power routers
• Biscuit jointers
• Scaffolding
• Sawing machines
• Forklifts
• Wood chisels
• Alignment jig
• Power sanders
• Level sensors or transmitters
• Triangles
• Bandsaw wheel
• Staple guns
• Power staple guns
• Saw guide
• Drilling machines
• Pry bars
• Hammers
• Scaffolding stabilizers
• Saw blades
• Pullers
• Hammer drills
• Power drills
• Compasses
• Impact wrenches
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
• Gas generators
• Safety boots
• Power grinders
• Plumb bobs
• Metal markers or holders
• Feeder jig
• Laser measuring systems
• Sledge hammer
• Conventional truck cranes
• Safety harnesses or belts
• Pneumatic nail drivers
• Power planes
• Power nail guns
• Pocket calculator
• Wood auger bit
• Saws
• Drum sander
• Cheesegrater file
• Bevels
• Tinners snips
• Belt sander
• Air compressors
• Hard hats
• Calipers
• Respirators
• Utility knives
• Notebook computers
• Theodolites
• Moisture meters
• Rulers
• Protractors
• Caulking guns
• Needlenose pliers
• Personal computers
• Templates
• Accounting software
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Job costing software
  • Quicken
• Project management software
  • Bosch Punch List
  • Craftsman CD Estimator
  • Estimating software
  • Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
  • VirtualBoss
• Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word
  • Wilhelm Publishing Threshold
• Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
• Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office software
• Operating system software
  • Microsoft Windows
• Computer aided design CAD software
  • Drawing and drafting software
• Internet browser software
  • Web browser software
• Information retrieval or search software
  • Renaissance MasterCarpenter
• Web page creation and editing software
  • Web page creation and editing software

Employment Industries for Carpenters

• Residential building construction
  216,000 employed
• Nonresidential building construction
  118,400 employed
• Drywall and insulation contractors
  33,100 employed
• Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors
  20,000 employed