Helpers--Carpenters build complex problem solving, coordination and social perceptiveness skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (85%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 85% | $39,630 | −9% | None |
| 2 | Carpenters | 83% | $60,580 | +38% | None |
| 3 | Terrazzo Workers and Finishers | 80% | $76,170 | +74% | None |
| 4 | Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | 80% | $58,930 | +35% | None |
| 5 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 80% | $47,730 | +9% | None |
| 6 | Structural Iron and Steel Workers | 79% | $62,780 | +43% | None |
| 7 | Brickmasons and Blockmasons | 79% | $62,120 | +42% | None |
| 8 | Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers | 79% | $58,970 | +35% | None |
| 9 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 78% | $51,330 | +17% | None |
| 10 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 78% | $63,870 | +46% | None |
Compared with Helpers--Carpenters, median $43,780. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as helpers--carpenters (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
85% skill match · $39,630 · −9% pay
Operation and Control · Troubleshooting · Equipment Maintenance
83% skill match · $60,580 · +38% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Operation and Control · Management of Personnel Resources
80% skill match · $76,170 · +74% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Operation and Control · Operations Analysis
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (85% skill match, median $39,630), Carpenters (83% skill match, median $60,580) and Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (80% skill match, median $76,170), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 24 pay more than helpers--carpenters at the median. The biggest increases: Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (+74%, $76,170), Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (+46%, $63,870) and Structural Iron and Steel Workers (+43%, $62,780).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.