Carpenters are highly valuable members of the construction and building industries. They can specialize in many different aspects of the job, from rough carpentry and framings to finish carpentry with top-quality millwork. In the United States carpenters usually make an average annual salary of around $47,000. However, carpenters who major in more specialized forms of carpentry can earn as much as $55,000 or more a year, depending on their specialty and geography. Additionally carpenters in certain parts of the world may take home significantly higher wages than carpenters working in other areas. The earnings potential for carpenters strongly influences their ability to grow a successful business for themselves or to join a company in the industry that provides stable careers with good salaries.