Carpenters vs Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters
Side-by-side comparison of salary, job growth, and training requirements based on BLS data.
Overview
Both carpentry and pipe helper roles offer solid entry points into the skilled trades, but they serve different purposes in your career journey. Carpenters earn significantly more at $59,310 median versus $39,270 for pipe helpers—a $20,040 difference. However, pipe helper positions are growing faster at 8.5% compared to carpentry's 5.2%. Carpenters build and repair structures using wood and other materials, requiring 3-4 years of training. Pipe helpers assist licensed plumbers and pipefitters with less skilled tasks, training in 1-2 years. The key difference: carpentry is a destination career, while pipe helper is typically a stepping stone to higher-paying plumbing apprenticeships.
Salary Breakdown
The $20,040 salary gap reflects different career stages. Carpenters represent a fully-skilled trade with solid earning potential and overtime opportunities, especially in commercial construction and specialized work like finish carpentry. Entry-level carpenters start around $35,000-40,000, with experienced professionals reaching $70,000-90,000+. Pipe helpers start lower, typically $30,000-35,000, but this role is designed as a pathway. Most helpers transition to plumbing apprenticeships within 2-3 years, where journeyman plumbers earn $75,000-100,000+. Consider pipe helper pay temporary—it's an investment in accessing higher-paying plumbing careers.
Work Environment
Carpenters work diverse environments from residential homes to high-rise construction, splitting time between indoor finish work and outdoor framing. Physical demands include lifting, climbing, and precision work with power tools. Pipe helpers work primarily indoors in basements, crawl spaces, and mechanical rooms—often cramped, hot conditions. Both involve physical labor, but pipe work includes exposure to chemicals and waste systems. Carpenters have more schedule variety across residential and commercial projects. Pipe helpers typically work standard business hours initially, though emergency plumbing calls become common after advancing to apprenticeships. Safety protocols are critical in both trades.
Career Growth
Carpenters can specialize in finish carpentry, framing, cabinetmaking, or commercial construction, with potential for supervisory roles and general contracting businesses. Top earners reach $80,000-100,000+ through specialization or business ownership. Pipe helpers have a clearer advancement ladder: helper → apprentice → journeyman → master plumber. This progression typically leads to higher earnings than carpentry, with master plumbers earning $80,000-120,000+. Plumbing also offers more recession-resistant work and stronger union representation in many areas. Both trades offer business ownership opportunities, but plumbing services often command higher rates than carpentry work.
Who should choose Carpenters?
Choose carpentry if you enjoy creating visible, lasting structures and working with wood and building materials. This fits people who like variety in projects, from framing houses to installing cabinets. You should be detail-oriented for finish work but also comfortable with heavy construction. If you want a complete trade skill relatively quickly (3-4 years) and don't mind seasonal fluctuations in work, carpentry offers good stability. It's ideal for those who prefer working above ground and want flexibility between residential and commercial construction projects.
Typical path: UBC apprenticeship or non-union program; no license required in most states
Explore Carpenters →Who should choose Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters?
Choose the pipe helper path if your ultimate goal is becoming a plumber or pipefitter—don't take this role to stay a helper long-term. It's perfect for people who want faster entry into the trades (1-2 years) and don't mind starting at lower pay for better long-term earning potential. You should be comfortable working in tight spaces, around water and waste systems, and handling some unpleasant tasks. This suits detail-oriented people who enjoy problem-solving and want a recession-proof career with strong advancement potential and union opportunities.
Typical path: On-the-job training under licensed plumbers; stepping stone to apprenticeship
Explore Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters →The Bottom Line
Carpentry offers immediate career satisfaction and decent pay, while pipe helper is a strategic entry point to higher-paying plumbing careers. Choose carpentry if you want to build things and earn well now. Choose pipe helper if you're willing to start lower for better long-term earning potential in plumbing.