Carpenter salary: what carpenters actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 670,090 carpenters nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What carpenters earn: the full range
The middle half of carpenters earn between $23.32 and $36.94 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $48.03 ($99,910 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $19.43.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $19.43 – $23.32 | $40,410 – $48,510 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.32 – $36.94 | $48,510 – $76,830 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.94 – $48.03 | $76,830 – $99,910 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Carpenter pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $41.00 | 41% above |
| Illinois | $37.98 | 30% above |
| California | $36.50 | 25% above |
| Massachusetts | $36.16 | 24% above |
| Washington | $35.67 | 22% above |
| Alaska | $35.51 | 22% above |
| New York | $34.77 | 19% above |
| Minnesota | $31.22 | 7% above |
| Connecticut | $30.80 | 6% above |
| New Jersey | $30.77 | 6% above |
| Maryland | $30.27 | 4% above |
| Indiana | $30.23 | 4% above |
| Oregon | $30.23 | 4% above |
| Colorado | $30.21 | 4% above |
| Vermont | $30.00 | 3% above |
| Nevada | $29.99 | 3% above |
| Maine | $29.88 | 3% above |
| District of Columbia | $29.67 | 2% above |
| Michigan | $29.66 | 2% above |
| Wisconsin | $29.65 | 2% above |
| New Hampshire | $29.42 | 1% above |
| Missouri | $29.25 | about the same as |
| Rhode Island | $29.25 | about the same as |
| Ohio | $29.24 | about the same as |
| New Mexico | $28.71 | 1% below |
| Pennsylvania | $28.54 | 2% below |
| Delaware | $28.46 | 2% below |
| Montana | $28.28 | 3% below |
| Arizona | $28.17 | 3% below |
| North Dakota | $27.83 | 4% below |
| Iowa | $27.75 | 5% below |
| Kansas | $27.39 | 6% below |
| Wyoming | $27.33 | 6% below |
| Virginia | $26.77 | 8% below |
| Kentucky | $25.33 | 13% below |
| Utah | $25.17 | 14% below |
| Idaho | $25.00 | 14% below |
| Tennessee | $24.44 | 16% below |
| South Carolina | $24.36 | 16% below |
| Nebraska | $24.19 | 17% below |
| Louisiana | $24.00 | 18% below |
| Florida | $23.98 | 18% below |
| Georgia | $23.72 | 19% below |
| North Carolina | $23.61 | 19% below |
| Texas | $23.51 | 19% below |
| West Virginia | $23.42 | 20% below |
| Mississippi | $23.39 | 20% below |
| Alabama | $23.18 | 20% below |
| South Dakota | $23.14 | 21% below |
| Arkansas | $22.96 | 21% below |
| Oklahoma | $22.55 | 23% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $41.00 | $37.27 | #2 | 4,810 |
| Illinois | $37.98 | $37.98 | #1 | 19,570 |
| California | $36.50 | $32.97 | #6 | 100,750 |
| Massachusetts | $36.16 | $34.18 | #4 | 18,540 |
| Washington | $35.67 | $33.34 | #5 | 26,960 |
| Alaska | $35.51 | $34.68 | #3 | 2,560 |
| New York | $34.77 | $32.22 | #8 | 40,630 |
| Minnesota | $31.22 | $31.66 | #10 | 14,930 |
| Connecticut | $30.80 | $29.73 | #22 | 5,160 |
| New Jersey | $30.77 | $28.28 | #30 | 14,230 |
| Maryland | $30.27 | $28.83 | #27 | 9,770 |
| Indiana | $30.23 | $32.40 | #7 | 15,240 |
| Oregon | $30.23 | $29.24 | #26 | 15,110 |
| Colorado | $30.21 | $29.30 | #24 | 12,740 |
| Vermont | $30.00 | $30.61 | #18 | 3,080 |
| Nevada | $29.99 | $29.99 | #20 | 12,700 |
| Maine | $29.88 | $30.80 | #17 | 5,170 |
| District of Columbia | $29.67 | $27.00 | #35 | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $29.66 | $30.83 | #16 | 18,590 |
| Wisconsin | $29.65 | $31.51 | #12 | 13,880 |
| New Hampshire | $29.42 | $28.23 | #31 | 3,760 |
| Missouri | $29.25 | $32.21 | #9 | 14,410 |
| Rhode Island | $29.25 | $28.59 | #28 | 2,580 |
| Ohio | $29.24 | $31.51 | #13 | 18,450 |
| New Mexico | $28.71 | $31.14 | #15 | 3,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.54 | $29.24 | #25 | 30,630 |
| Delaware | $28.46 | $28.52 | #29 | 2,250 |
| Montana | $28.28 | $29.89 | #21 | 4,030 |
| Arizona | $28.17 | $27.97 | #33 | 16,230 |
| North Dakota | $27.83 | $31.27 | #14 | 2,360 |
| Iowa | $27.75 | $31.61 | #11 | 5,770 |
| Kansas | $27.39 | $30.40 | #19 | 5,210 |
| Wyoming | $27.33 | $29.48 | #23 | 2,260 |
| Virginia | $26.77 | $26.48 | #39 | 20,460 |
| Kentucky | $25.33 | $28.08 | #32 | 8,540 |
| Utah | $25.17 | $25.45 | #47 | 15,220 |
| Idaho | $25.00 | $26.18 | #41 | 8,380 |
| Tennessee | $24.44 | $26.59 | #38 | 8,200 |
| South Carolina | $24.36 | $26.00 | #45 | 6,950 |
| Nebraska | $24.19 | $26.85 | #37 | 5,710 |
| Louisiana | $24.00 | $27.21 | #34 | 8,990 |
| Florida | $23.98 | $23.19 | #51 | 39,300 |
| Georgia | $23.72 | $24.63 | #49 | 9,190 |
| North Carolina | $23.61 | $25.04 | #48 | 13,480 |
| Texas | $23.51 | $24.21 | #50 | 33,540 |
| West Virginia | $23.42 | $26.17 | #42 | 3,670 |
| Mississippi | $23.39 | $26.89 | #36 | 2,950 |
| Alabama | $23.18 | $26.10 | #44 | 5,560 |
| South Dakota | $23.14 | $26.12 | #43 | 4,560 |
| Arkansas | $22.96 | $26.42 | #40 | 4,030 |
| Oklahoma | $22.55 | $25.68 | #46 | 3,820 |
Carpenter wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.35 | $29.66 | 771,030 |
| 2000 | $15.69 | $29.33 | 858,890 |
| 2001 | $16.09 | $29.25 | 851,610 |
| 2002 | $16.44 | $29.42 | 856,750 |
| 2003 | $16.47 | $28.82 | 852,080 |
| 2004 | $16.78 | $28.60 | 882,490 |
| 2005 | $17.11 | $28.21 | 935,920 |
| 2006 | $17.57 | $28.06 | 985,990 |
| 2007 | $18.11 | $28.12 | 969,670 |
| 2008 | $18.72 | $27.99 | 899,920 |
| 2009 | $18.98 | $28.48 | 743,760 |
| 2010 | $19.00 | $28.05 | 620,410 |
| 2011 | $19.24 | $27.54 | 578,910 |
| 2012 | $19.20 | $26.92 | 567,820 |
| 2013 | $19.47 | $26.91 | 580,570 |
| 2014 | $19.63 | $26.70 | 617,060 |
| 2015 | $20.24 | $27.49 | 639,190 |
| 2016 | $20.96 | $28.12 | 676,980 |
| 2017 | $21.71 | $28.51 | 693,050 |
| 2018 | $22.40 | $28.72 | 718,730 |
| 2019 | $23.24 | $29.27 | 734,170 |
| 2020 | $23.81 | $29.62 | 699,300 |
| 2021 | $23.20 | $27.56 | 668,060 |
| 2022 | $24.71 | $27.18 | 689,770 |
| 2023 | $27.09 | $28.62 | 700,290 |
| 2024 | $28.51 | $29.26 | 697,740 |
| 2025 | $29.12 | $29.12 | 670,090 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median carpenter wage changed by +5.9% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for carpenters
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $45.34 | $55.52 | 3,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42.89 | $63.83 | 14,010 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $40.59 | $48.21 | 650 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $39.47 | $58.00 | 700 |
| Napa, CA | $38.75 | $64.06 | 650 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38.71 | $58.41 | 2,150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38.68 | $56.95 | 14,220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $38.55 | $64.36 | 4,460 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37.35 | $54.95 | 700 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $37.12 | $61.71 | 820 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $36.74 | $59.50 | 14,970 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36.64 | $60.97 | 660 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36.41 | $56.46 | 30,600 |
| Springfield, MA | $36.31 | $48.32 | 660 |
| Peoria, IL | $36.19 | $50.69 | 780 |
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for carpenters in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 100% | $91.59 | — | 21/21 |
| California | 90% | $86.68 | $26.00 | 58/58 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $85.46 | — | 5/5 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $81.55 | — | 14/14 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $78.38 | — | 5/5 |
| Alaska | 100% | $77.21 | — | 30/30 |
| Illinois | 100% | $76.45 | — | 102/102 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $73.23 | — | 71/72 |
| Washington | 97% | $71.50 | $26.72 | 39/39 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $71.22 | — | 8/17 |
| Oregon | 28% | $69.43 | $47.07 | 36/36 |
| Kansas | 8% | $67.03 | $22.99 | 105/105 |
| Delaware | 100% | $63.61 | — | 3/3 |
| Missouri | 95% | $62.18 | $28.27 | 115/115 |
| Ohio | 40% | $59.53 | $38.34 | 88/88 |
| New York | 84% | $57.84 | $45.74 | 62/62 |
| Indiana | 97% | $57.66 | $10.24 | 92/92 |
| Michigan | 99% | $57.13 | $22.73 | 83/83 |
| Iowa | 17% | $56.93 | $29.29 | 99/99 |
| Pennsylvania | 96% | $56.61 | $36.33 | 67/67 |
| West Virginia | 100% | $56.56 | — | 55/55 |
| Idaho | 52% | $53.92 | $26.10 | 44/44 |
| Arizona | 53% | $52.39 | $19.88 | 15/15 |
| Nebraska | 9% | $52.08 | $18.37 | 93/93 |
| Maine | 31% | $50.52 | $26.69 | 16/16 |
| Kentucky | 26% | $50.34 | $32.98 | 120/120 |
| Virginia | 2% | $50.33 | $17.26 | 102/133 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $48.74 | — | 1/1 |
| Montana | 23% | $47.07 | $26.46 | 56/56 |
| Colorado | 78% | $45.28 | $27.95 | 64/64 |
| Alabama | 19% | $45.04 | $18.08 | 67/67 |
| Tennessee | 7% | $44.94 | $19.40 | 95/95 |
| Mississippi | 1% | $44.81 | $16.88 | 82/82 |
| Arkansas | 3% | $43.76 | $17.36 | 75/75 |
| Louisiana | 6% | $43.65 | $18.22 | 64/64 |
| Florida | 12% | $39.69 | $16.60 | 67/67 |
| Vermont | 93% | $38.08 | $30.77 | 14/14 |
| Texas | 16% | $37.87 | $14.30 | 254/254 |
| Oklahoma | 3% | $36.06 | $19.64 | 77/77 |
| New Mexico | 27% | $34.87 | $27.46 | 33/33 |
| Georgia | 0% | — | $22.28 | 159/159 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $50.64 | 24/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $67.12 | 87/87 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $18.92 | 99/100 |
| North Dakota | 0% | — | $23.04 | 53/53 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | — | $31.97 | 10/10 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $68.42 | 17/17 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $16.00 | 46/46 |
| South Dakota | 0% | — | $20.58 | 66/66 |
| Utah | 0% | — | $24.81 | 29/29 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $47.43 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects carpenters employment to change by +3.9% over 2025-35, with about 62,800 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare carpenter pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make?
The median carpenter earned $29.12 an hour, or $60,580 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 670,090 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $23.32 and $36.94 an hour.
How much do carpenters make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $19.43 at the 10th percentile to $48.03 at the 90th, with a median of $29.12. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice carpenter make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $19.43 to $23.32 an hour ($40,410 to $48,510 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays carpenters the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $41.00 an hour in May 2025, followed by Illinois ($37.98) and California ($36.50). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are carpenter wages going up?
In today's dollars the median carpenter wage changed by +5.9% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $20.24 to $29.12.
Is carpenter a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $60,580 a year, a 90th percentile of $99,910, projected growth of +3.9% and about 62,800 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2031 (Carpenters). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.