Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Carpenters, 2016-2020


Background

Carpenters construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials such as concrete forms, building frameworks (including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters), wood stairways, window/door frames, and hardwood floors. They may also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation.

As of May 2020, there were 699,300 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $26.06, and the average annual wage was $54,200.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for carpenters, there were 11,960 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 202.7.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, carpenters, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

2,920

Fractures

1,700

Soreness, pain

1,670

All other natures

1,650

Cuts, lacerations

1,370

Part of body affected

Hand

2,280

Multiple body parts

1,690

Foot

1,230

Back

1,140

Ankle

930

Source of injury or illness

Parts and materials

3,350

All other sources

2,430

Handtools

1,280

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

1,270

Worker motion or position

1,240

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Struck by object or equipment

2,870

Fall to lower level

2,250

Fall on same level

1,230

Struck against object or equipment

1,110

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

990

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 79 for carpenters during 2020, compared to 99 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, carpenters, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

99101869979

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

6--8----

Transportation incidents

87111011

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

6664435748

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

1214111212

Contact with objects and equipment

61013135

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories.

[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: February 11, 2022