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Carpenter · California

Carpenter programs in California

In California, a first-year carpenter is either paid — or paying.

Tuition on the school path is real money. First-year pay on the apprenticeship path is a paycheck. Seats are not guaranteed on either side.

Carpenter in the United States

Updated Apr 2026

UBC Northern California carpenter JATC — $21–$28/hr

Bay Area first-year carpenter scale · Mar 2026

Year one in California

One paid path and one school path. The full list is below.

Paid training · listed first

Southwest Carpenters / LA basin JATC

UBC Southwest Regional Council · Los Angeles basin

Tuition
$0
First-year wage
$19–$25/hr

You pay · no paycheck in class

California community college carpentry / construction

CCC campuses with construction programs · Statewide

Tuition
$1,800–$8,000
First-year wage
$0 during school

All programs on this page

01

Southwest Carpenters / LA basin JATC

ApprenticeshipSeats: Unknown

Tuition / net cost

$0

Paid OJT. Related instruction included.

First-year wage

$19–$25/hr

First-year share of a high SoCal carpenter scale.

Term

4 years

California carpenter wages among the highest nationally

UBC Southwest Regional Council·Los Angeles basin

Source: Southwest Carpenters public apprenticeship notes (2026-04)

02

Northern California carpenter JATC

ApprenticeshipSeats: Unknown

Tuition / net cost

$0

Paid OJT.

First-year wage

$21–$28/hr

High-COL Bay Area first-year scale.

Term

4 years

Bay Area carpenter packages at the national top

UBC Northern California·Bay Area / Northern California

Source: UBC Northern California public program notes (2026-03)

03

California community college carpentry / construction

Trade schoolSeats: Open

Tuition / net cost

$1,800–$8,000

In-state community-college range. Tools extra.

First-year wage

$0 during school

Unpaid classroom. CA entry wages after completion are strong.

Term

1–2 years

California carpenter median well above the U.S. median

CCC campuses with construction programs·Statewide

Source: CCCCO catalogs (2026-02)

Other carpenter states

Get carpenter numbers for another state

We only write when new year-one numbers go up.