CARPENTER

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 69,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chicago is seeking a Union Carpentry professional to perform journey-level rough and finished carpentry work across multiple city departments. You will read plans, prepare sites, install fixtures, and complete finishing tasks under supervision.

This role involves ladders, scaffolds, heavy lifting, and adherence to safety standards. Starting salary is competitive for hourly carpentry work in city service.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a US Department of Labor registered Carpentry apprenticeship program and journeyman status.
• Company or industry sponsored apprenticeship plus two years journey-level experience accepted as alternative.
• Six years of journey-level experience as a Carpenter.

Responsibilities

• Reads blueprints, specifications, and work orders to assess work required and determine installation and repair methods.
• Dismantles and removes damaged wooden structures and fixtures.
• Uses hand and power tools to measure, cut, and shape wood, drywall, and related materials to specification.
• Frames walls and partitions and installs doors and windows.
• Performs finishing work including installing interior and exterior trim, carpeting, and related materials.
• Repairs and maintains wood fixtures, including floors, stairs, ceilings, doors, and frames.

Skills

Journeyman carpenter

Carpentry experience

Education

US Department of Labor registered Carpentry apprenticeship program

Industry-sponsored apprenticeship + 2 years journey-level experience

Six years journey-level experience

Job description

Description

CARPENTER (UNIVERSAL)

Department of Fleet & Facilities Management (2FM - Career Service)

Department of Transportation (CDOT - Career Service)

Department of Water Management (DWM - Career Service)

Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA - Career Service)

Number of Positions: 3

Starting Salary: $58.51/HOURLY

Please note: All of these vacancies have not been approved by the Budget Department. This information is included in this posting to help bidders make more informed decisions. A fewer or greater number of vacancies may be recognized during the period this list remains active.

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council (BARGAINING UNIT #50). Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 11/19/2026.

Under supervision, performs journey-level rough and finished carpentry work in the construction, installation, and repair of wood structures and fixtures, and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Reads blueprints, specifications, and work orders to assess work required and determine installation and repair methods to use
• Dismantles and removes damaged wooden structures and fixtures
• Ensures adequate supplies of tools, equipment, and materials needed to complete jobs are at work sites as required
• Uses hand and power tools to measure, cut, and shape wood, drywall, and related materials to specification
• Joins materials with nails, screws, staples, or adhesives
• Checks accuracy of work with levels, laser levels, plumb bobs, and framing squares and makes necessary adjustments
• Builds forms for concrete construction projects and constructs and erects scaffolding, platforms, and other support structures
• Frames walls and partitions and installs doors and windows
• Performs finishing work including installing interior and exterior trim, broadloom and tile carpeting, VCT, Sheet Goods, and sold surface material such as Corian.
• Repairs and maintains wood and related fixtures (e.g., floors, stairs, ceilings, doors, door frames, locks)
• Operates specialized equipment and tools (e.g., saws, drills, sanders)
• Operates man-lifts and aerial-lifts
• Maintains records of materials used
• Prepares work activity reports
• Repairs and maintains parts and vehicles (windshields, locks, and headliners) as required.

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: Various

Days: Will Vary

Hours: Various Shifts

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Successful completion of a US Department of Labor registered Carpentry apprenticeship training program and journeyman status, OR should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are available:
• Successful completion of a company or industry sponsored apprenticeship training program as a Carpenter, PLUS two (2) years of journey-level experience
• Six (6) years of journey-level experience as a Carpenter

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, OR OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

• A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required
• Some positions require candidates to obtain the basic (yellow) airfield driving endorsement within six (6) months of hire.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Exposure to loud noise, fumes or dust
• Exposure to hazardous conditions (e.g., construction sites)
• Work performed above or below ground level
• Work performed using scaffolds and ladders

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Heavy lifting (up to 75 pounds) is required
• Ability to stand and walk for extended or continuous periods of time
• Ability to quickly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with one's body, arms, and/or legs
• Ability to climb staircases, ladders, and/or step stools
• Ability to access difficult to enter spaces (e.g., roofs, basements, cramped quarters)
• Ability to operate applicable hand tools, power tools, and equipment
• Ability to tolerate heights while working

NOTE: You must provide your valid State of Illinois Driver's License and other verifying credentials at time of processing, if applicable.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This is a non-interview, tested title This position requires applicants to complete a job knowledge test and skills practical assessment. Test results will be sent out by the Department of Human Resources after test results have been analyzed and compiled. External applicants who receive a passing score on the test will be hired in lottery/random order. Bid/Internal applicants who receive a passing score will be selected in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website: City of Chicago: Classification and Pay Plan https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

APPLICATION EVALUATION:

Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

The City of Chicago is committed to providing fair chance hiring and welcomes applicants with past convictions, recognizing the value of a diverse workforce and the potential for growth and positive change.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor