Carpenter vs Diesel 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
Diesel Tech
$54,690
National Median Salary
Total Jobs300,000
Annual Openings28,100
Training1-2 yr certificate
Metric
Carpenter
Diesel Tech
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $59,310* | $54,690 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 959,000* | 300,000 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 89,000* | 28,100 |
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 Diesel Techs
Alaska$79,870
Washington$74,320
Connecticut$71,450
Wyoming$70,120
California$68,790