Carpenter salary: what carpenters actually make
Carpenters earned a median $29.12 an hour ($60,580 a year) in May 2025, across 670,090 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
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.
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. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master carpenter pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level carpenter earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master carpenter, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.43 – $23.32 | $40,410 – $48,510 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.32 – $36.94 | $48,510 – $76,830 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $36.94 – $48.03 | $76,830 – $99,910 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
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 and by -0.5% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 670,090 carpenters in May 2025, +4.8% compared with 639,190 ten years earlier and -8.7% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 771,030 |
| 2000 | 858,890 |
| 2001 | 851,610 |
| 2002 | 856,750 |
| 2003 | 852,080 |
| 2004 | 882,490 |
| 2005 | 935,920 |
| 2006 | 985,990 |
| 2007 | 969,670 |
| 2008 | 899,920 |
| 2009 | 743,760 |
| 2010 | 620,410 |
| 2011 | 578,910 |
| 2012 | 567,820 |
| 2013 | 580,570 |
| 2014 | 617,060 |
| 2015 | 639,190 |
| 2016 | 676,980 |
| 2017 | 693,050 |
| 2018 | 718,730 |
| 2019 | 734,170 |
| 2020 | 699,300 |
| 2021 | 668,060 |
| 2022 | 689,770 |
| 2023 | 700,290 |
| 2024 | 697,740 |
| 2025 | 670,090 |
Of the 43 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 24 counted more carpenters in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Idaho (+89.2%, 4,430 to 8,380); the weakest was Georgia (-35.4%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 4,430 | 8,380 | +89.2% | +5.7% |
| Arizona | 8,760 | 16,230 | +85.3% | +1.8% |
| Utah | 9,590 | 15,220 | +58.7% | +52.0% |
| Oregon | 11,120 | 15,110 | +35.9% | -7.6% |
| Nevada | 9,530 | 12,700 | +33.3% | +2.4% |
| Tennessee | 6,160 | 8,200 | +33.1% | -3.4% |
| Maine | 3,900 | 5,170 | +32.6% | +0.8% |
| Kentucky | 6,740 | 8,540 | +26.7% | +12.2% |
| California | 82,540 | 100,750 | +22.1% | -5.2% |
| Washington | 22,360 | 26,960 | +20.6% | +5.3% |
| Massachusetts | 15,900 | 18,540 | +16.6% | +4.0% |
| South Dakota | 3,940 | 4,560 | +15.7% | +12.6% |
| Virginia | 17,850 | 20,460 | +14.6% | +8.1% |
| West Virginia | 3,220 | 3,670 | +14.0% | +30.1% |
| Indiana | 13,440 | 15,240 | +13.4% | +9.5% |
| Missouri | 12,780 | 14,410 | +12.8% | -4.5% |
| Hawaii | 4,320 | 4,810 | +11.3% | -22.0% |
| Michigan | 16,700 | 18,590 | +11.3% | -9.2% |
| Minnesota | 13,770 | 14,930 | +8.4% | -18.5% |
| Florida | 36,620 | 39,300 | +7.3% | -13.7% |
| New Mexico | 3,390 | 3,630 | +7.1% | -2.7% |
| Vermont | 3,040 | 3,080 | +1.3% | +17.6% |
| Ohio | 18,220 | 18,450 | +1.3% | -2.6% |
| Montana | 4,000 | 4,030 | +0.8% | -13.1% |
| Wisconsin | 13,940 | 13,880 | -0.4% | -13.5% |
| South Carolina | 7,030 | 6,950 | -1.1% | -21.4% |
| North Carolina | 13,730 | 13,480 | -1.8% | -24.6% |
| Colorado | 13,050 | 12,740 | -2.4% | -14.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 31,420 | 30,630 | -2.5% | -2.1% |
| Arkansas | 4,290 | 4,030 | -6.1% | +10.1% |
| Texas | 35,750 | 33,540 | -6.2% | -18.7% |
| Kansas | 5,880 | 5,210 | -11.4% | -9.5% |
| New Jersey | 16,560 | 14,230 | -14.1% | -6.1% |
| New York | 47,960 | 40,630 | -15.3% | -22.8% |
| Illinois | 23,620 | 19,570 | -17.1% | -26.3% |
| Oklahoma | 4,620 | 3,820 | -17.3% | -24.5% |
| Connecticut | 6,480 | 5,160 | -20.4% | -7.7% |
| Maryland | 12,270 | 9,770 | -20.4% | -36.4% |
| Nebraska | 7,420 | 5,710 | -23.0% | -25.5% |
| Iowa | 7,680 | 5,770 | -24.9% | -0.5% |
| Louisiana | 11,980 | 8,990 | -25.0% | -34.9% |
| Alabama | 8,180 | 5,560 | -32.0% | -11.7% |
| Georgia | 14,220 | 9,190 | -35.4% | -26.9% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the carpenter jobs are
Vermont has the highest concentration of carpenters, 2.4× the national share, followed by South Dakota (2.3×) and Idaho (2.3×). The lowest is Georgia at 0.4×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 3,080 | 10.1 | 2.4× |
| South Dakota | 4,560 | 10.0 | 2.3× |
| Idaho | 8,380 | 9.8 | 2.3× |
| Utah | 15,220 | 8.8 | 2.0× |
| Nevada | 12,700 | 8.2 | 1.9× |
| Maine | 5,170 | 8.1 | 1.9× |
| Wyoming | 2,260 | 8.1 | 1.9× |
| Montana | 4,030 | 7.9 | 1.8× |
| Alaska | 2,560 | 7.8 | 1.8× |
| Hawaii | 4,810 | 7.7 | 1.8× |
| Oregon | 15,110 | 7.7 | 1.8× |
| Washington | 26,960 | 7.6 | 1.8× |
| Nebraska | 5,710 | 5.6 | 1.3× |
| California | 100,750 | 5.5 | 1.3× |
| New Hampshire | 3,760 | 5.5 | 1.3× |
| North Dakota | 2,360 | 5.5 | 1.3× |
| West Virginia | 3,670 | 5.2 | 1.2× |
| Rhode Island | 2,580 | 5.1 | 1.2× |
| Massachusetts | 18,540 | 5.1 | 1.2× |
| Minnesota | 14,930 | 5.1 | 1.2× |
| Pennsylvania | 30,630 | 5.0 | 1.2× |
| Arizona | 16,230 | 5.0 | 1.2× |
| Virginia | 20,460 | 5.0 | 1.2× |
| Missouri | 14,410 | 4.9 | 1.1× |
| Indiana | 15,240 | 4.8 | 1.1× |
| Wisconsin | 13,880 | 4.7 | 1.1× |
| Delaware | 2,250 | 4.6 | 1.1× |
| Louisiana | 8,990 | 4.7 | 1.1× |
| Colorado | 12,740 | 4.4 | 1.0× |
| Kentucky | 8,540 | 4.3 | 1.0× |
| Michigan | 18,590 | 4.2 | 1.0× |
| New Mexico | 3,630 | 4.2 | 1.0× |
| New York | 40,630 | 4.2 | 1.0× |
| Florida | 39,300 | 4.0 | 0.9× |
| Iowa | 5,770 | 3.7 | 0.9× |
| Kansas | 5,210 | 3.6 | 0.8× |
| Maryland | 9,770 | 3.5 | 0.8× |
| New Jersey | 14,230 | 3.3 | 0.8× |
| Ohio | 18,450 | 3.3 | 0.8× |
| Illinois | 19,570 | 3.2 | 0.7× |
| Arkansas | 4,030 | 3.1 | 0.7× |
| Connecticut | 5,160 | 3.0 | 0.7× |
| South Carolina | 6,950 | 3.0 | 0.7× |
| North Carolina | 13,480 | 2.7 | 0.6× |
| Alabama | 5,560 | 2.6 | 0.6× |
| Mississippi | 2,950 | 2.5 | 0.6× |
| Tennessee | 8,200 | 2.5 | 0.6× |
| Texas | 33,540 | 2.4 | 0.6× |
| Oklahoma | 3,820 | 2.2 | 0.5× |
| District of Columbia | 1,540 | 2.2 | 0.5× |
| Georgia | 9,190 | 1.9 | 0.4× |
Metros with the most carpenter jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 34,210 | $35.72 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 30,600 | $36.41 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,970 | $36.74 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 14,260 | $29.70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 14,220 | $38.68 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 14,010 | $42.89 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 13,280 | $29.23 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 12,970 | $34.08 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 12,720 | $36.16 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 12,710 | $29.00 |
Highest-paying metros for carpenters
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $45.34 | $40.85 | #2 | $55.52 | 3,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42.89 | $37.10 | #7 | $63.83 | 14,010 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $40.59 | $43.69 | #1 | $48.21 | 650 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $39.47 | $36.08 | #8 | $58.00 | 700 |
| Napa, CA | $38.75 | $34.41 | #14 | $64.06 | 650 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38.71 | $35.91 | #9 | $58.41 | 2,150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38.68 | $37.34 | #6 | $56.95 | 14,220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $38.55 | $34.92 | #11 | $64.36 | 4,460 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37.35 | $33.99 | #20 | $54.95 | 700 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $37.12 | $34.18 | #16 | $61.71 | 820 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $36.74 | $33.07 | #30 | $59.50 | 14,970 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36.64 | $33.77 | #22 | $60.97 | 660 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36.41 | $32.05 | #41 | $56.46 | 30,600 |
| Springfield, MA | $36.31 | $37.78 | #5 | $48.32 | 660 |
| Peoria, IL | $36.19 | $39.68 | #3 | $50.69 | 780 |
Metros with at least 500 carpenters. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 179 metros with a parity.
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 | — | 8/8 |
| 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 | 3% | $50.33 | $17.26 | 131/133 |
| 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 the number of carpenters to change by +3.9% over 2025-35, from 889,700 to 924,700, with about 62,800 openings a year.
Of those openings, 3,600 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 59,200 from replacement: 23,500 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 35,700 for people who move to another occupation.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: apprenticeship. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Idaho projects the fastest growth for carpenters at +22.0%; by openings, California (11,040 a year), Florida (5,360 a year), New York (4,170 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 16,870 | 20,580 | +22.0% | 1,700 |
| Colorado | 17,880 | 21,480 | +20.1% | 1,860 |
| Arizona | 25,200 | 29,930 | +18.8% | 2,430 |
| West Virginia | 4,740 | 5,560 | +17.4% | 450 |
| Rhode Island | 4,540 | 5,210 | +15.0% | 410 |
| Delaware | 2,070 | 2,380 | +14.9% | 190 |
| Florida | 60,000 | 68,090 | +13.5% | 5,360 |
| Nevada | 17,150 | 19,180 | +11.8% | 1,490 |
| Oregon | 21,940 | 24,360 | +11.0% | 1,890 |
| Wyoming | 3,350 | 3,710 | +10.7% | 290 |
| Tennessee | 14,160 | 15,660 | +10.6% | 1,210 |
| Connecticut | 9,090 | 10,020 | +10.3% | 770 |
| South Dakota | 5,920 | 6,480 | +9.6% | 500 |
| Utah | 18,940 | 20,610 | +8.8% | 1,570 |
| Georgia | 12,250 | 13,290 | +8.5% | 1,010 |
| Texas | 46,540 | 50,440 | +8.4% | 3,840 |
| Nebraska | 8,880 | 9,620 | +8.3% | 730 |
| Wisconsin | 20,030 | 21,630 | +8.0% | 1,640 |
| Alabama | 7,940 | 8,560 | +7.8% | 650 |
| Montana | 5,830 | 6,260 | +7.4% | 470 |
| Mississippi | 3,110 | 3,320 | +7.1% | 250 |
| North Dakota | 3,150 | 3,370 | +7.1% | 250 |
| Arkansas | 5,260 | 5,620 | +6.8% | 420 |
| Missouri | 17,060 | 18,220 | +6.8% | 1,370 |
| Iowa | 7,500 | 8,000 | +6.7% | 600 |
| District of Columbia | 1,440 | 1,540 | +6.6% | 120 |
| New Mexico | 4,380 | 4,660 | +6.6% | 350 |
| Virginia | 25,060 | 26,680 | +6.5% | 2,280 |
| California | 138,400 | 147,200 | +6.4% | 11,040 |
| Vermont | 5,190 | 5,520 | +6.4% | 410 |
| Massachusetts | 25,670 | 27,290 | +6.3% | 2,050 |
| New Hampshire | 5,260 | 5,580 | +6.1% | 420 |
| South Carolina | 9,230 | 9,780 | +5.9% | 730 |
| Illinois | 29,790 | 31,510 | +5.8% | 2,350 |
| Louisiana | 12,300 | 12,960 | +5.4% | 960 |
| Kentucky | 11,230 | 11,820 | +5.3% | 880 |
| Maryland | 13,500 | 14,220 | +5.3% | 1,060 |
| North Carolina | 18,400 | 19,310 | +5.0% | 1,430 |
| Hawaii | 8,320 | 8,700 | +4.6% | 640 |
| Indiana | 19,760 | 20,680 | +4.6% | 1,530 |
| Oklahoma | 5,290 | 5,520 | +4.3% | 410 |
| Minnesota | 22,430 | 23,370 | +4.2% | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | 17,890 | 18,620 | +4.1% | 1,370 |
| Kansas | 7,140 | 7,430 | +4.0% | 550 |
| Pennsylvania | 39,720 | 41,250 | +3.8% | 3,030 |
| Washington | 43,810 | 44,670 | +2.0% | 3,280 |
| Ohio | 23,540 | 23,970 | +1.8% | 1,730 |
| Michigan | 27,380 | 27,670 | +1.1% | 1,990 |
| New York | 59,190 | 58,880 | -0.5% | 4,170 |
| Maine | 7,290 | 7,210 | -1.1% | 510 |
| Alaska | 2,410 | 2,290 | -4.8% | 160 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare carpenter pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
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.
Are carpenter jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 670,090 carpenters in May 2025, +4.8% compared with ten years earlier and -8.7% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +3.9% growth over 2025-35 with about 62,800 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most carpenters?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put California (11,040 a year, +6.4% growth), Florida (5,360 a year, +13.5% growth), New York (4,170 a year, -0.5% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are carpenters most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, Vermont has the highest concentration at 2.4× the national share, then South Dakota (2.3×) and Idaho (2.3×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2031 (Carpenters). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.