Doing carpentry courses may not be the most glamorous thing you can do. But I tell you what; getting your diploma in carpentry can lead to some nice pay days.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for a carpenter back in May 2008 was $18.72. This rate is higher than the pay that many students with degree currently earn. As a matter of fact, the top 10% of carpenters earned more than $33.34 hourly for the same period – May 2008. This is serious money.
So please, don’t let any college student turn up his Carpenters Reading nose at the fact that you are doing or planning on doing carpentry courses. Chances are that after you complete your studies, you might just be earning more than he is.
Although carpenters learn a lot of their skills working as an apprentices alongside more experienced professionals, some decide to combine on-the-job-training with technical training at vocational or trade schools.
Carpenter training can be offered via a combination of distance learning correspondence courses and online instruction. As a student of this program, you’ll learn things such as how to cut, install doors and frame roofs. Distance learning courses allow you to study in your spare-time out of the comfort of your own home.
Prior to pursuing your studies, you have to be honest with yourself. Is carpentry a summer job for you or do you want to have it as a full-time career? Can you deal with the strenuous and dangerous nature of the work? Your answers to these questions could be a huge deciding factor as to whether or not you should spend your hard-earned money on doing this course.
Another important factor in your decision is the fact that carpentry is very susceptible to changes in the economy. Construction activity tends to suffer greatly in economic downturns. In such times carpenters can suffer from long bouts of unemployment.
If after weighing the pros and cons you decide on pursuing carpentry courses to improve your career prospects, you need to know which schools offer the top programs in the country.