Carpenter salary in Alaska
Median $35.51 an hour for 2,560 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Carpenter pay in Alaska: the full range
Alaska ranks 6th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 3rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.68). 2,560 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 3.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $23.59 – $28.74 | $49,060 – $59,770 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.74 – $45.26 | $59,770 – $94,150 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $45.26 – $72.85 | $94,150 – $151,530 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in Alaska
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | $25.70 | $40.85 | $39.58 | $73.25 | 280 | 15% above |
| Anchorage | $23.38 | $35.00 | $33.21 | $71.79 | 1,460 | 1% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Carpenter wages in Alaska over time
Table
| Year | Alaska $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $20.92 | $40.43 | $15.35 | 2,750 |
| 2000 | $21.98 | $41.09 | $15.69 | 3,260 |
| 2001 | $22.11 | $40.19 | $16.09 | 3,240 |
| 2002 | $22.38 | $40.05 | $16.44 | 3,520 |
| 2003 | $22.52 | $39.40 | $16.47 | 3,530 |
| 2004 | $23.21 | $39.56 | $16.78 | 3,390 |
| 2005 | $25.55 | $42.12 | $17.11 | 2,980 |
| 2006 | $24.83 | $39.65 | $17.57 | 3,240 |
| 2007 | $25.92 | $40.25 | $18.11 | 2,970 |
| 2008 | $26.22 | $39.21 | $18.72 | 3,230 |
| 2009 | $28.57 | $42.87 | $18.98 | 3,030 |
| 2010 | $29.99 | $44.28 | $19.00 | 3,020 |
| 2011 | $30.11 | $43.09 | $19.24 | 3,320 |
| 2012 | $30.06 | $42.15 | $19.20 | 3,190 |
| 2013 | $29.85 | $41.25 | $19.47 | 2,940 |
| 2014 | $31.56 | $42.92 | $19.63 | 2,780 |
| 2015 | $32.52 | $44.17 | $20.24 | 2,540 |
| 2016 | $33.36 | $44.75 | $20.96 | 2,350 |
| 2017 | $33.15 | $43.54 | $21.71 | 2,170 |
| 2018 | $31.42 | $40.28 | $22.40 | 2,110 |
| 2019 | $31.32 | $39.44 | $23.24 | 2,130 |
| 2020 | $30.61 | $38.08 | $23.81 | 2,010 |
| 2021 | $29.35 | $34.87 | $23.20 | 2,280 |
| 2022 | $31.40 | $34.54 | $24.71 | 2,710 |
| 2023 | $29.90 | $31.59 | $27.09 | 2,470 |
| 2024 | $31.32 | $32.14 | $28.51 | 2,700 |
| 2025 | $35.51 | $35.51 | $29.12 | 2,560 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Alaska changed by -19.6% over the last ten years of data and by -10.0% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs in Alaska?
BLS counted 2,560 carpenters in Alaska in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 7%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for carpenters in Alaska
Alaska's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by -4.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 2,410 to 2,290, with about 160 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 2,560 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Alaska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Alaska
On federally funded construction in Alaska, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 30 of the 30 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $77.21 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $35.51.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleutians East | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Aleutians West | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Anchorage | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Bethel | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Bristol Bay | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Chugach | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Copper River | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Denali | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Dillingham | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Fairbanks North Star | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Haines | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Hoonah-Angoon | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Juneau | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Kenai Peninsula | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Ketchikan Gateway | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Kodiak Island | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Kusilvak | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Lake and Peninsula | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Matanuska-Susitna | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Nome | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| North Slope | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Northwest Arctic | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Petersburg | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Sitka | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Skagway | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Southeast Fairbanks | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Wrangell | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Yakutat | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
| Yukon-Koyukuk | Union CARP1281-001 2025-04-01 | $50.79 | $26.42 | $77.21 | AK20260001 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Alaska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Alaska?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Alaska
More on Alaska
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in Alaska?
The median carpenter in Alaska earned $35.51 an hour ($73,860 a year) in May 2025, 22% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $28.74–$45.26; the top 10% earn more than $72.85.
Where does Alaska rank for carpenter pay?
Alaska ranks 6th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $35.51 an hour, and 3rd after adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.4, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in Alaska?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 30 counties, with a typical package of $77.21 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many carpenters work in Alaska?
BLS counted 2,560 carpenters in Alaska in May 2025, 7.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.82; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is carpenter work growing in Alaska?
Alaska's labor market agency projects -4.8% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 2,410 to 2,290 jobs.
How many carpenter openings a year are there in Alaska?
Alaska projects about 160 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, Alaska 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Alaska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.