Carpenter vs Auto Tech
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Carpenter
$59,310
National Median Salary
Total Jobs959,000
Annual Openings89,000
Training3-4 yr apprenticeship
Auto Tech
$47,770
National Median Salary
Total Jobs794,600
Annual Openings69,000
Training1-2 yr certificate
Metric
Carpenter
Auto Tech
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $59,310* | $47,770 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 959,000* | 794,600 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 89,000* | 69,000 |
Training Time | 3-4 yr apprenticeship | 1-2 yr certificate |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Carpenters
Illinois$89,560
New York$87,320
Hawaii$85,430
Alaska$82,110
Massachusetts$77,650
Top States for Auto Techs
Alaska$68,430
Washington$62,180
Connecticut$61,340
Hawaii$60,780
California$59,230