Carpenter at Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Program
at Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Program in Elk Grove Village, IL
About This Program
The Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Program offers a registered Carpenter Apprenticeship based in Elk Grove Village, IL. Situated in the Chicago metropolitan area, this employer-sponsored program connects apprentices with one of the most active construction markets in the Midwest while they earn wages and build career-ready skills.
The four-year program encompasses 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn framing, formwork, finish carpentry, blueprint reading, construction safety, and other core trade competencies. Instruction is structured to grow in complexity over time, matching the apprentice's increasing field experience.
Upon program completion, graduates achieve journey-level status and are prepared for careers across the wide range of construction projects that define the greater Chicago area's building industry. The Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council's extensive presence in Illinois provides graduates with strong employment connections.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$26
OJT Hours
8,000
RTI Hours
576
Duration
4 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
Carpenter Career Outlook
National Median
$25.87/hr
~$53,809.6/yr
Apprentice Start
$14.5/hr
Earn while you learn
Job Outlook
Carpenter employment is projected to grow in line with construction activity. Residential building, commercial renovation, and infrastructure projects all drive demand. Carpenters with diverse skills across framing, finishing, and concrete work have the strongest prospects. The trade continues to face a shortage of younger workers, creating opportunities for new entrants.
What to Expect as a Carpenter Apprentice
Duration
4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~40 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (8,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
576 hours of related technical instruction (~144 hours/year)
Paid Training
You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress
Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Carpenter
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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