Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Alabama

Median $23.18 an hour for 5,560 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.18/hrMedian hourly wageAlabama, May data
$48,220/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.55 – $30.3610th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,560Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Carpenter pay in Alabama: the full range

Wage percentiles, AlabamaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrAlabama: 10th $16.55 · 25th $19.43 · median $23.18 · 75th $27.11 · 90th $30.36Alabama$23.18$16.55$30.36United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Alabama vs United States, May 2025.

Alabama ranks 48th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 44th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.10). 5,560 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.55 – $19.43$34,430 – $40,410roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$19.43 – $27.11$40,410 – $56,390the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.11 – $30.36$56,390 – $63,140the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Alabama

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrFlorence: $24.87Florence$24.87Decatur: $24.50Decatur$24.50Birmingham: $24.23Birmingham$24.23Anniston: $23.59Anniston$23.59Huntsville: $23.54Huntsville$23.54Tuscaloosa: $23.49Tuscaloosa$23.49Mobile: $23.34Mobile$23.34Auburn: $22.89Auburn$22.89Montgomery: $22.77Montgomery$22.77Daphne: $22.59Daphne$22.59Columbus: $21.67Columbus$21.67Dothan: $20.58Dothan$20.58
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Alabama, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Florence$17.03$24.87$29.33$37.101707% above
Decatur$17.94$24.50$28.10$33.371906% above
Birmingham$18.02$24.23$26.45$30.471,6605% above
Anniston$16.06$23.59$27.46$28.19702% above
Huntsville$17.08$23.54$25.28$33.304302% above
Tuscaloosa$17.40$23.49$26.78$28.802601% above
Mobile$17.71$23.34$26.49$29.596301% above
Auburn$16.22$22.89$26.04$30.622001% below
Montgomery$16.39$22.77$25.38$28.893002% below
Daphne$16.54$22.59$23.85$28.842703% below
Columbus$15.51$21.67$24.27$28.861407% below
Dothan$15.02$20.58$24.56$26.4813011% below
Gadsden$16.14$19.80$23.10$27.423015% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Carpenter wages in Alabama over time

Alabama, 1999-2025AlabamaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$23.18Alabama
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Alabama vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearAlabama $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$11.01$21.28$15.3510,600
2000$11.94$22.32$15.6910,260
2001$12.18$22.14$16.0910,400
2002$12.49$22.35$16.449,940
2003$12.83$22.45$16.4710,160
2004$13.03$22.21$16.7810,500
2005$13.60$22.42$17.1110,480
2006$13.56$21.65$17.5711,050
2007$13.88$21.55$18.1112,120
2008$14.18$21.20$18.7211,670
2009$14.32$21.49$18.9810,430
2010$14.62$21.59$19.008,310
2011$14.82$21.21$19.247,120
2012$14.46$20.28$19.207,120
2013$14.69$20.30$19.477,790
2014$14.81$20.14$19.638,220
2015$16.33$22.18$20.248,180
2016$17.20$23.07$20.968,160
2017$17.96$23.59$21.717,270
2018$18.77$24.06$22.406,760
2019$19.43$24.47$23.246,300
2020$19.25$23.95$23.815,920
2021$18.09$21.49$23.205,990
2022$19.53$21.48$24.716,160
2023$21.39$22.60$27.096,080
2024$23.02$23.63$28.515,700
2025$23.18$23.18$29.125,560

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Alabama changed by +4.5% over the last ten years of data and by -5.3% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Alabama?

-11.7%Jobs since 20196,300 then, 5,560 in 2025
-32.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.6× the US share, 45th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Alabama has changed by -47.5%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -11.7%.

Carpenters in Alabama vs United States, 1999 = 100AlabamaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages25507510012515020002005201020152020202587United States52Alabama
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Alabama vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearAlabama jobsAlabama indexUS index
199910,600100100
200010,26097111
200110,40098110
20029,94094111
200310,16096110
200410,50099114
200510,48099121
200611,050104128
200712,120114126
200811,670110117
200910,4309896
20108,3107880
20117,1206775
20127,1206774
20137,7907475
20148,2207880
20158,1807783
20168,1607788
20177,2706990
20186,7606493
20196,3005995
20205,9205691
20215,9905687
20226,1605890
20236,0805791
20245,7005490
20255,5605287

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.

Outlook for carpenters in Alabama

+7.8%Projected growth in Alabama2024–2034, state agency
650Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,940Jobs in 20248,560 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Alabama's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +7.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,940 to 8,560, with about 650 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,560 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Alabama

On federally funded construction in Alabama, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 13 of the 67 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.04 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.08). 54 of the 67 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Autauga County at $19.62). The market median for the state is $23.18.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ALAutauga: $19.62 (survey)Baldwin: $17.37 (survey)Barbour: $14.01 (survey)Bibb: $44.30 (union)Blount: $44.30 (union)Bullock: $14.01 (survey)Butler: $14.01 (survey)Calhoun: $17.57 (survey)Chambers: $21.96 (survey)Cherokee: $21.96 (survey)Chilton: $44.30 (union)Choctaw: $18.08 (survey)Clarke: $17.00 (survey)Clay: $21.96 (survey)Cleburne: $21.96 (survey)Coffee: $14.01 (survey)Colbert: $45.04 (union)Conecuh: $18.08 (survey)Coosa: $21.96 (survey)Covington: $14.01 (survey)Crenshaw: $14.01 (survey)Cullman: $45.04 (union)Dale: $15.64 (survey)Dallas: $18.08 (survey)DeKalb: $21.96 (survey)Elmore: $17.07 (survey)Escambia: $18.08 (survey)Etowah: $16.50 (survey)Fayette: $45.04 (union)Franklin: $45.04 (union)Geneva: $16.95 (survey)Greene: $18.08 (survey)Hale: $16.18 (survey)Henry: $16.95 (survey)Houston: $15.00 (survey)Jackson: $21.96 (survey)Jefferson: $18.43 (survey)Lamar: $45.04 (union)Lauderdale: $45.04 (union)Lawrence: $18.18 (survey)Lee: $18.20 (survey)Limestone: $17.69 (survey)Lowndes: $17.07 (survey)Macon: $14.01 (survey)Madison: $18.53 (survey)Marengo: $18.08 (survey)Marion: $45.04 (union)Marshall: $22.44 (survey)Mobile: $18.16 (survey)Monroe: $18.08 (survey)Montgomery: $16.84 (survey)Morgan: $18.18 (survey)Perry: $18.08 (survey)Pickens: $16.18 (survey)Pike: $14.01 (survey)Randolph: $21.96 (survey)Russell: $15.17 (survey)St. Clair: $16.06 (survey)Shelby: $44.30 (union)Sumter: $18.08 (survey)Talladega: $21.96 (survey)Tallapoosa: $21.96 (survey)Tuscaloosa: $16.18 (survey)Walker: $44.30 (union)Washington: $18.08 (survey)Wilcox: $18.08 (survey)Winston: $45.04 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.18$18.08$18.34$22.34survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for carpenters by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$10$20$30$40$50/hrColbert (Florence): market median $24.87, prevailing (union) $45.04, gap +$20.17Colbert (Florence)+$20.17Bibb (Birmingham): market median $24.23, prevailing (union) $44.30, gap +$20.07Bibb (Birmingham)+$20.07Autauga (Montgomery): market median $22.77, prevailing (survey) $19.62, gap −$3.15Autauga (Montgomery)−$3.15Etowah (Gadsden): market median $19.80, prevailing (survey) $16.50, gap −$3.30Etowah (Gadsden)−$3.30Geneva (Dothan): market median $20.58, prevailing (survey) $16.95, gap −$3.63Geneva (Dothan)−$3.63Lee (Auburn): market median $22.89, prevailing (survey) $18.20, gap −$4.69Lee (Auburn)−$4.69Madison (Huntsville): market median $23.54, prevailing (survey) $18.53, gap −$5.01Madison (Huntsville)−$5.01Mobile (Mobile): market median $23.34, prevailing (survey) $18.16, gap −$5.18Mobile (Mobile)−$5.18Baldwin (Daphne): market median $22.59, prevailing (survey) $17.37, gap −$5.22Baldwin (Daphne)−$5.22Greene (Tuscaloosa): market median $23.49, prevailing (survey) $18.08, gap −$5.41Greene (Tuscaloosa)−$5.41Calhoun (Anniston): market median $23.59, prevailing (survey) $17.57, gap −$6.02Calhoun (Anniston)−$6.02Lawrence (Decatur): market median $24.50, prevailing (survey) $18.18, gap −$6.32Lawrence (Decatur)−$6.32Russell (Columbus): market median $21.67, prevailing (survey) $15.17, gap −$6.50Russell (Columbus)−$6.50
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Alabama.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ColbertUnion CARP1209-003 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260100
CullmanUnion CARP1209-002 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260074
FayetteUnion CARP1209-002 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260081
FranklinUnion CARP1209-002 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260081
LamarUnion CARP1209-002 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260081
LauderdaleUnion CARP1209-003 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260100
MarionUnion CARP1209-002 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260081
WinstonUnion CARP1209-002 2025-01-01$30.26$14.78$45.04AL20260081
BibbUnion CARP0318-002 2024-09-01$32.35$11.95$44.30AL20260099
BlountUnion CARP0318-002 2024-09-01$32.35$11.95$44.30AL20260099
ChiltonUnion CARP0318-002 2024-09-01$32.35$11.95$44.30AL20260099
ShelbyUnion CARP0318-002 2024-09-01$32.35$11.95$44.30AL20260096
WalkerUnion CARP0318-002 2024-09-01$32.35$11.95$44.30AL20260099
MarshallSurvey SUAL2015-004 2017-08-02$18.29$4.15$22.44AL20260076
ChambersSurvey SUAL2015-007 2017-08-02$17.89$4.07$21.96AL20260079

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Alabama prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Alabama?

113.8kConstruction jobsAlabama, 2026-09
+2.6%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202660k80k100k120k19901995200020052010201520202025114kSep 2026
Construction employment in Alabama (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Alabama

More on Alabama

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Alabama?

The median carpenter in Alabama earned $23.18 an hour ($48,220 a year) in May 2025, 20% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $19.43–$27.11; the top 10% earn more than $30.36.

Where does Alabama rank for carpenter pay?

Alabama ranks 48th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $23.18 an hour, and 44th after adjusting for Alabama's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.8, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Alabama?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 13 counties, with a typical package of $45.04 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Alabama?

BLS counted 5,560 carpenters in Alabama in May 2025, 2.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.61; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Alabama?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Alabama went from 8,180 in 2015 to 5,560 in 2025, -32.0%, and -11.7% since 2019. Alabama's labor market agency projects +7.8% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 7,940 to 8,560 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Alabama?

Alabama projects about 650 openings a year for carpenters over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 62,800 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Alabama and metro areas, SOC 47-2031. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.