National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 72310: Carpenters
Carpenters construct, erect, install, maintain and repair structures and components of structures made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel and other materials. Below are the main duties, all 63 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 72310?
NOC 72310 is the code for carpenters in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include apprentice carpenter, carpenter, carpenter-joiner and finish carpenter. It is a TEER 2 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and IRCC lists it for the trades category draw. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $32.12 an hour.
- NOC code
- 72310
- TEER
- 2: College diploma or apprenticeship of 2+ years
- Broad category
- Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- Trades
- Median wage
- $32.12 an hour
Job titles under NOC 72310
Carpenters construct, erect, install, maintain and repair structures and components of structures made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel and other materials. They are employed by construction companies, carpentry contractors, and maintenance departments of factories, plants and other establishments, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- apprentice carpenter
- carpenter
- carpenter-joiner
- finish carpenter
- journeyman/woman carpenter
- maintenance carpenter
- metal framer - carpentry
- renovation carpenter
- rough carpenter
- stair builder-carpenter
All 63 job titles in the NOC index
access floor specialist carpenter, apprentice boat carpenter, apprentice carpenter, apprentice carpenter-joiner, boat carpenter, boat joiner, boatbuilding apprentice, bridge carpenter, building addition carpenter, building carpenter, carpenter, carpenter lead hand, carpenter rough, carpenter-joiner, carpentry repairman/woman, concrete forms carpenter, construction carpenter, construction technician - Canadian Armed Forces, dock carpenter, finish carpenter, floor systems carpenter, form builder - carpentry, form carpenter, framer-carpenter, framing carpenter, house carpenter, interior finish carpenter, interior finish joiner, interior systems carpenter, interior trimmer carpenter, journeyman/woman carpenter, log home builder, log home carpenter, log home carpenter-builder, maintenance carpenter, maintenance carpenter-joiner, maintenance joiner, manufactured house carpenter, metal framer - carpentry, mill carpenter, mine carpenter, plant carpenter, prefabricated house carpenter, prefabricated structure carpenter, railway rolling stock carpenter, railway rolling stock joiner, renovation carpenter, restoration carpenter, rough carpenter, ship joiner, shipbuilding carpenter, shipbuilding joiner, sign carpenter, stage carpenter, stair builder-carpenter, stairway carpenter, steel framer - carpentry, steel stud framer - carpentry, studio carpenter, wood frame carpenter, wood frame house carpenter, wood shipwright, wooden boatbuilder.
Also included in this group
- log home builder
Main duties of NOC 72310
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Read and interpret blueprints, drawings and sketches to determine specifications and calculate requirements
- Prepare layouts in conformance to building codes, using measuring tools
- Measure, cut, shape, assemble and join materials made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel and other materials
- Build foundations, install floor beams, lay subflooring and erect walls and roof systems
- Fit and install trim items, such as doors, stairs, moulding and hardware
- Maintain, repair and renovate residences and wooden structures in mills, mines, hospitals, industrial plants and other establishments
- Supervise apprentices and other construction workers
- May prepare cost estimates for clients.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in carpentry is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for carpenters is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
- Trade certification for framers is available, but voluntary, in Saskatchewan.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified carpenters upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Additional information
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Is NOC 72310 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 2 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 72310 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | A listed skilled trade |
| Trade occupations (category draw) | On the eligible list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 72310 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $22.00 | $32.12 | $44.23 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $20.00 | $27.00 | $39.27 |
| Prince Edward Island | $20.00 | $25.00 | $35.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $20.00 | $25.00 | $33.80 |
| New Brunswick | $18.00 | $24.00 | $34.00 |
| Quebec | $24.61 | $36.84 | $44.00 |
| Ontario | $22.00 | $32.00 | $48.00 |
| Manitoba | $20.00 | $27.00 | $38.99 |
| Saskatchewan | $19.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| Alberta | $22.22 | $34.00 | $42.00 |
| British Columbia | $23.00 | $32.00 | $43.71 |
| Yukon | $25.00 | $35.00 | $45.00 |
| Northwest Territories | $22.50 | $33.33 | $50.00 |
| Nunavut | $20.46 | $34.35 | $51.99 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 72310 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 72310 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
- See a Canadian resume example for this job.
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Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for carpenter?
NOC 72310, Carpenters, a TEER 2 occupation.
What TEER is NOC 72310?
TEER 2. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 72310 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and it is also a listed Federal Skilled Trades occupation. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 72310 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
Yes. IRCC’s 2026 list puts it in the trades category. You need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same part-time) in it within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 72310 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $32.12 an hour, with most wages between $22.00 and $44.23. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 72310 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.