Carpenters vs Electricians
Electricians earns $3,040 more at the middle. Every figure is US government data you can check.
| Carpenters | Electricians | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay in the middle median annual wage, May 2024 | $59,310 | $62,350 |
| Pay range 10th to 90th percentile | $38,760 to $98,370 | $39,430 to $106,030 |
| Years of school you pay for our own estimate from published entry requirements, not a BLS figure | 0 | 0 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Jobs opening up each year | 74,100 | 81,000 |
| Growth by 2034 | 4% | 9% |
| People doing it now | 959,000 | 818,700 |
| Where the pay is highest and lowest state medians, not adjusted for cost of living or taxes | $85,970 in Hawaii down to $46,160 in Mississippi | $97,320 in Oregon down to $49,420 in Arkansas |
Also compared: Carpenters vs Heavy Carpenters vs Police Electricians vs Heavy Electricians vs Police
Jobs that use what you already know
Same skills, same knowledge, same daily tasks. Most of these are not on this site.
Carpenters
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
What these usually take: High school, then a few months to a year of on-the-job training.
Electricians
- Lighting Technicians
- Helpers--Electricians
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
What these usually take: A trade school course, an associate's degree, or one to two years on the job.
O*NET 30.3 Database, U.S. Department of Labor. These are jobs that use similar skills, knowledge and daily tasks. It is a measure of how alike two jobs are — not a record of people moving between them.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment and wage data, May 2024, and employment projections 2024-34. Years of school is our own estimate from published entry requirements, not a BLS figure. State medians are not adjusted for cost of living or taxes, and that difference could be large either way. No advice, just data.