Carpenters vs Maintenance & Repair Workers
Side-by-side comparison of salary, job growth, and training requirements based on BLS data.
Overview
Both carpentry and maintenance work offer solid blue-collar careers with steady demand, but they serve different purposes in the construction and facilities world. Carpenters earn a higher median salary at $59,310 versus $48,620 for maintenance workers—that's a 22% difference. However, maintenance work shows stronger 10-year growth at 8.1% compared to carpentry's 5.2%. Carpenters focus on building and installing structures using wood and other materials, creating everything from framing to custom cabinetry. Maintenance workers keep existing systems running, troubleshooting equipment, machinery, and building systems. Carpentry requires longer training (3-4 years) while maintenance typically needs 1-2 years to get started.
Salary Breakdown
Carpenters start around $35,000-40,000 annually but can reach $90,000+ with experience and specialization. The $59,310 median reflects solid mid-career earning potential. High-end finish carpenters and specialized framers often command premium rates. Maintenance workers typically start at $30,000-35,000, with the $48,620 median representing steady progression. Experienced maintenance supervisors can reach $70,000+. Both trades offer overtime opportunities, but carpenters often see more seasonal variation in hours. Maintenance work provides steadier year-round income, while carpentry can have higher peak earning periods during busy construction seasons.
Work Environment
Carpenters work primarily on construction sites, moving between projects as buildings progress. Expect outdoor work in various weather conditions, physical demands like lifting lumber, and power tool operation. Safety risks include cuts, falls, and repetitive motion injuries. Maintenance workers typically work indoors in office buildings, hospitals, schools, or manufacturing facilities. They face diverse challenges daily—from plumbing leaks to electrical issues. Physical demands vary but include climbing, crawling, and troubleshooting in tight spaces. Both require safety awareness, but maintenance workers often deal with live electrical systems and chemical hazards in industrial settings.
Career Growth
Carpenters can specialize in finish work, framing, cabinetmaking, or restoration, with master craftsmen commanding top dollar. Many successful carpenters start their own contracting businesses, leveraging skills into six-figure incomes. Union carpenters can advance to foreman or superintendent roles. Maintenance workers can become facility managers, maintenance supervisors, or specialize in HVAC, electrical, or industrial equipment. The broader skill set opens doors across industries—hospitals, schools, manufacturing, and commercial real estate. Both paths offer business ownership potential, but maintenance work provides more diverse industry opportunities and management track advancement.
Who should choose Carpenters?
Choose carpentry if you enjoy building things from scratch and seeing tangible results of your craftsmanship. You should like working with your hands, have good spatial reasoning, and don't mind seasonal work fluctuations. This career suits people who prefer project-based work over routine tasks, can handle physical demands, and want higher earning potential. If you're detail-oriented, enjoy working with wood and building materials, and can see yourself potentially starting a construction business, carpentry offers the creative satisfaction of creating lasting structures.
Typical path: UBC apprenticeship or non-union program; no license required in most states
Explore Carpenters →Who should choose Maintenance & Repair Workers?
Choose maintenance work if you're a natural problem-solver who enjoys variety in daily tasks. You should be mechanically inclined, comfortable learning different systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), and prefer steady, year-round work. This career fits people who like troubleshooting, don't mind being on-call occasionally, and want job security across multiple industries. If you enjoy fixing things, can work independently, and want a career that's recession-resistant with opportunities in every sector from healthcare to manufacturing, maintenance work provides stability and diverse challenges.
Typical path: On-the-job training or trade school; various certifications helpful
Explore Maintenance & Repair Workers →The Bottom Line
Both are recession-resistant careers with steady demand. Choose carpentry for higher pay and creative building projects. Choose maintenance for job security, faster entry, and diverse problem-solving across industries. Your personality—builder versus fixer—should guide this decision.