How to Become a Carpenter in Michigan

Carpentry is one of the most flexible trades in Michigan. You can frame houses, build commercial interiors, set forms for concrete or work on industrial jobs. Michigan carpenters earn more than the national median, and union and merit-shop apprenticeships let you get paid while you learn.

What a carpenter does

Carpenters build, install and repair structures made of wood and other materials. Day to day, you might read plans, measure and cut lumber, frame walls and roofs, hang doors and windows, install cabinets and trim, or build concrete forms.

Some carpenters stay general. Others specialize in residential framing, commercial interiors, finish work, or concrete and heavy construction. The work is physical and often outdoors, so expect lifting, climbing and Michigan weather.

Michigan license and certification requirements

Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) licenses people and companies who contract residential construction work for pay. If you plan to run your own carpentry business, this section is for you.

• Who needs a license: anyone who does residential construction for pay. Single jobs where labor and materials total less than $600 are exempt, unless the job is part of a larger project or split up to avoid the law.
• Two license types: a Residential Builder license lets you build a complete home and do remodeling. A Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor license covers specific trades, and carpentry is one of them.
• 60-hour prelicensure course: you must complete 60 hours of approved education, with at least 6 hours each in business management, estimating and job costing; design and building science; contracts, liability and risk management; marketing and sales; project management and scheduling; the Michigan Residential Code; and MIOSHA construction safety.
• Exam: after LARA approves your application, PSI contacts you to schedule the state exam.
• Fees: $195 for an individual license. Veterans can request a fee waiver with a DD-214.
• Renewal: licenses renew every 3 years, with continuing competency hours that include codes, safety and law changes. Newer licensees need more hours in their first 6 years, so check LARA’s current rules.
• Companies: corporations, LLCs and partnerships need their own license, with a licensed person as the Qualifying Officer.

Most new carpenters start as employees or apprentices, not contractors. BLS notes that carpenters must complete the OSHA 10-hour safety course, and specialty certifications are optional.

How much carpenters make in Michigan

Michigan carpenters earned a median of $61,680 a year in May 2025, a bit above the national median of $60,580. Pay is highest in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas.

Area	Median annual pay	Median hourly
United States	$60,580	$29.12
Michigan	$61,680	$29.65
Detroit–Warren–Dearborn	$65,810	$31.64
Grand Rapids–Wyoming–Kentwood	$59,000	$28.37
Lansing–East Lansing	$64,270	$30.90
Ann Arbor	$65,170	$31.33

Source: O*NET OnLine, BLS OEWS May 2025

Hourly figures are the annual median divided by 2,080 hours. Union apprentices start at a percentage of the journeyworker rate and get raises as they progress.

Job outlook in Michigan

Michigan expects carpentry jobs to grow about 1% from 2024 to 2034, from about 27,380 to 27,670, with about 1,990 openings a year. (That total includes self-employed carpenters, so it is higher than the wage survey’s employee count.)

Nationally, BLS projects about 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 62,800 openings a year.

Training paths in Michigan

Union apprenticeship: Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC)

The MRCC runs apprenticeships for carpenters, millwrights and floor layers. Apprentices combine on-the-job training with classroom work and earn wages from day one. According to the MRCC’s apprenticeship page, training is free to members in good standing, and apprentice pay follows a four-year scale:

• Year 1: 55% to 70% of the journeyworker rate
• Year 2: 60% to 75%
• Year 3: 70% to 92.5%
• Year 4: 80% to 97.5%

The MRCC has five apprentice training centers (see locations):

• Detroit: Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center, 11687 American Ave., Detroit, (248) 541-2740
• Wayland (West Michigan): Carpenters and Millwrights Apprentice Training Center, 500 Reno Dr., Wayland, (269) 561-8115
• Saginaw: Carpenter Training Center, 3160 Commerce Centre Dr., Saginaw, (989) 323-7201
• Grayling (Northern Michigan): Carpenter Training Center, 2410 Industrial Dr., Grayling, (989) 753-1487
• Negaunee (Upper Peninsula): Carpenter & Millwright Training Center, 370 U.S. Hwy. 41 East, Negaunee, (906) 228-2913

How to apply: request an application through the MRCC’s apply page or by texting MRCCAPP to 855-424-2562. The MRCC says an application is emailed to you in 7 to 10 business days. The steps after that are: submit your application, take an in-person entry-level math assessment (a practice test is on the apply page), interview, pass a drug screen, then attend orientation and start. Most communication happens by email, so check yours often. The apply page does not list set application dates.

Merit-shop (non-union) apprenticeship: ABC of Michigan

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Michigan has three regional chapters, and each partners with a training academy (ABC of Michigan training page):

• Southeastern Michigan Chapter (Sterling Heights): its training affiliate, the Southeast Michigan Construction Academy (SEMCA), trains in electrical, carpentry and welding and enrolls more than 600 apprentices a year. Call (248) 298-3600. ABC Southeastern Michigan training
• Greater Michigan Chapter (Midland): the Greater Michigan Construction Academy (GMCA), an NCCER-accredited member, lists carpentry among its crafts. It serves communities including Midland, Greater Lansing, Saginaw, Jackson, Bay City, Ionia, Frankenmuth and Ann Arbor. Call (989) 374-4600. ABC Greater Michigan training
• Western Michigan Chapter (Grand Rapids): partners with the West Michigan Construction Institute. Call (616) 942-9960. ABC Western Michigan

In many merit-shop programs, the contractor you work for enrolls you in classes. A good first step is to get hired by an ABC member contractor and ask about apprenticeship, or call the chapter for a list of contractors who are hiring.

See which Michigan apprenticeships are accepting applications right now: Michigan Apprenticeship Tracker

Community college programs

Several Michigan colleges offer carpentry or construction certificates. One example: Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City offers Carpentry Technology I and II certificates, with a curriculum designed by industry. It serves both working carpenters and beginners with no experience.

A college program can help you get hired as a helper or prepare for an apprenticeship. Some colleges also offer LARA’s 60-hour builder prelicensure course.

Step-by-step: how to become a carpenter in Michigan

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to be a carpenter in Michigan?

If you contract residential carpentry for pay, you generally need a LARA Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration license (carpentry is an M&A trade), unless the whole job is under $600.

How do I apply to the union carpenters apprenticeship in Michigan?

Request an application from the MRCC’s apply page at buildmifuture.com or text MRCCAPP to 855-424-2562. Then you’ll take a math assessment, interview and pass a drug screen before orientation.

How much do carpenters make in Michigan?

The median was $61,680 a year ($29.65 an hour) in May 2025. The Detroit-area median was $65,810, and the Ann Arbor-area median was $65,170.

Are carpentry jobs growing in Michigan?

Michigan projects about 1% growth from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,990 openings a year.

What does it take to get a Michigan residential builder license?

Complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education, apply to LARA with the $195 fee, meet the good moral character requirement and pass the PSI exam.

Can veterans save on a builder license?

Yes. LARA lets honorably discharged veterans request a fee waiver by submitting a DD-214.

Sources

• O*NET OnLine: Carpenter wages in Michigan (BLS OEWS May 2025)
• O*NET OnLine: Carpenter employment trends in Michigan (2024–2034)
• BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Carpenters
• LARA: Prelicensure education for Residential Builder and M&A Contractor
• LARA: Residential Builders FAQ
• LARA: Residential Builder / M&A Contractor application
• LARA: Builder continuing competency
• MRCC: Apprenticeship
• MRCC: Training center locations
• MRCC: Apply
• ABC of Michigan: Training & Safety
• ABC Southeastern Michigan: Training
• ABC Greater Michigan: Training
• Northwestern Michigan College: Carpentry Technology