Ever wonder how wage and other employment data compare for remodeling-related occupations? Here are some answers from The Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-11* from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CARPENTERS
- Employment is expected to grow 13% from 2008 to 2018
- Held about 1.3 million jobs in 2008
- 32% are self-employed
- 22% work for specialty trade contractors
- Median hourly wages of wage and salary carpenters: $18.72
- Median hourly wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of carpenters:
• nonresidential building construction: $21.08 • building finishing contractors: $19.37
• residential building construction: $18.24
• foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors: $17.67
• employment services: $15.81
INTERIOR DESIGNERS
- Employment is expected to grow 19% from 2008 to 2018
- Held about 71,700 jobs
- Median annual wages: $44,950
- Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of interior designers:
• architectural, engineering, and related services: $49,290. • specialized design services: $45,470
• building material and supplies dealers: $40,040
- For residential design projects, self-employed interior designers and those working in smaller firms usually earn a per-hour consulting fee, plus a percentage of the total cost of furniture, lighting, artwork, and other design elements they specify
ARCHITECTS
- Employment to grow 16% from 2008 to 2018
- Held about 141,200 jobs. Approximately 68% of jobs were in the architectural, engineering, and related services industry. A small number worked for residential and nonresidential building construction companies and for government agencies
- 21% of architects are self-employed
- Median annual wages of wage-and-salary architects: $70,320
*Edition data is from May 2008
