An Apprentice is someone who is learning a trade by working under the guidance of skilled workers of that trade, called journeymen. It is on-the-job training. You earn while you learn, and are paid a wage from the first day you become a working apprentice. Today, many women are training as apprentices, too. As an apprentice your wages will start at about 50% of the journeyman rate of pay and will increase periodically until you reach the full journeyman scale. It usually takes four years to become a journeyman residential carpenter. But, remember, the training costs you nothing!