Building & fixing

What does a
carpenter do?

Builds and repairs things from wood, such as furniture and doors.

A career guide for curious students · Grades 3–12

Illustration of a carpenter at work
Explore the everyday work behind this career.

A day in the life

Measures, cuts, joins, and finishes wood following a design, often for a customer.

Skills to practise

Measuring, steady hands, creativity.

How to explore this path

Apprenticeship or a skills course.

Training, qualifications and professional rules vary by country. Check current local requirements with a teacher or careers counsellor.

School subjects & interests

Carpenter connects with Maths, Art. You may enjoy this work if you like hands-on, creative.

TRY A LITTLE OF THIS CAREER

A hands-on activity

Measure a small box with a ruler and design a toy-sized table on paper.

Ask an adult to help. Follow the safety notes in the activity. Printable activities are currently in English.

For younger explorers: a simpler explanation

What do they do?

Carpenters make tables, chairs, and doors from wood.

What helps?

Measuring well and being careful and creative.

Learning about the path

You learn by working with an expert or taking a course.

Questions to explore next

Related careers to discover

My exploration notebook

Stored only in this browser. Choose up to three careers for a side-by-side comparison.