Carpenter vs CDL Driver
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
CDL Driver
$54,320
National Median Salary
Total Jobs2,100,000
Annual Openings231,100
Training3-6 wk CDL program
Metric
Carpenter
CDL Driver
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $59,310* | $54,320 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 959,000 | 2,100,000* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 89,000 | 231,100* |
Training Time | 3-4 yr apprenticeship | 3-6 wk CDL program |
* 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 CDL Drivers
Alaska$77,890
Wyoming$67,430
Washington$64,120
North Dakota$63,450
California$62,780