Carpenter vs Machinist
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
Machinist
$51,720
National Median Salary
Total Jobs384,700
Annual Openings35,400
Training1-2 yr certificate or apprenticeship
Metric
Carpenter
Machinist
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $59,310* | $51,720 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 959,000* | 384,700 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 89,000* | 35,400 |
Training Time | 3-4 yr apprenticeship | 1-2 yr certificate or apprenticeship |
* 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 Machinists
Alaska$78,430
Connecticut$74,890
Washington$72,340
California$70,120
Massachusetts$68,450