Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Arkansas

Median $22.96 an hour for 4,030 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$22.96/hrMedian hourly wageArkansas, May data
$47,760/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.50 – $33.9210th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,030Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Carpenter pay in Arkansas: the full range

Wage percentiles, ArkansasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrArkansas: 10th $17.50 · 25th $19.93 · median $22.96 · 75th $27.65 · 90th $33.92Arkansas$22.96$17.50$33.92United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Arkansas vs United States, May 2025.

Arkansas ranks 50th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 40th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.42). 4,030 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.50 – $19.93$36,400 – $41,460roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$19.93 – $27.65$41,460 – $57,510the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.65 – $33.92$57,510 – $70,550the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Arkansas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrMemphis: $24.34Memphis$24.34Fayetteville: $23.59Fayetteville$23.59Little Rock: $23.10Little Rock$23.10Jonesboro: $21.13Jonesboro$21.13Hot Springs: $20.85Hot Springs$20.85Texarkana: $20.51Texarkana$20.51Fort Smith: $20.39Fort Smith$20.39
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Arkansas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Memphis$19.35$24.34$26.40$31.151,2406% above
Fayetteville$18.52$23.59$25.81$34.861,1303% above
Little Rock$17.81$23.10$25.84$30.301,0801% above
Jonesboro$17.13$21.13$24.60$32.991108% below
Hot Springs$16.75$20.85$24.33$36.261309% below
Texarkana$14.41$20.51$24.42$30.479011% below
Fort Smith$16.23$20.39$23.74$30.0524011% below

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

Carpenter wages in Arkansas over time

Arkansas, 1999-2025ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$22.96Arkansas
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Arkansas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearArkansas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.04$23.27$15.355,520
2000$12.46$23.30$15.695,690
2001$13.22$24.03$16.095,940
2002$13.34$23.87$16.445,190
2003$13.18$23.06$16.475,030
2004$13.99$23.84$16.784,660
2005$13.88$22.88$17.114,550
2006$14.49$23.14$17.575,030
2007$14.74$22.89$18.115,470
2008$15.48$23.15$18.724,910
2009$15.68$23.53$18.984,430
2010$15.79$23.31$19.003,740
2011$15.98$22.87$19.243,210
2012$15.85$22.23$19.203,240
2013$15.71$21.71$19.473,410
2014$16.02$21.79$19.633,680
2015$16.06$21.81$20.244,290
2016$16.40$22.00$20.964,670
2017$16.46$21.62$21.714,440
2018$17.03$21.83$22.404,250
2019$17.47$22.00$23.243,660
2020$18.35$22.83$23.813,030
2021$18.33$21.78$23.202,720
2022$19.05$20.96$24.713,310
2023$21.58$22.80$27.092,950
2024$22.27$22.86$28.513,860
2025$22.96$22.96$29.124,030

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Arkansas changed by +5.3% over the last ten years of data and by +4.4% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Arkansas?

+10.1%Jobs since 20193,660 then, 4,030 in 2025
-6.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 41st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Arkansas has changed by -27.0%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +10.1%.

Carpenters in Arkansas vs United States, 1999 = 100ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages25507510012515020002005201020152020202587United States73Arkansas
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Arkansas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearArkansas jobsArkansas indexUS index
19995,520100100
20005,690103111
20015,940108110
20025,19094111
20035,03091110
20044,66084114
20054,55082121
20065,03091128
20075,47099126
20084,91089117
20094,4308096
20103,7406880
20113,2105875
20123,2405974
20133,4106275
20143,6806780
20154,2907883
20164,6708588
20174,4408090
20184,2507793
20193,6606695
20203,0305591
20212,7204987
20223,3106090
20232,9505391
20243,8607090
20254,0307387

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 Arkansas

+6.8%Projected growth in Arkansas2024–2034, state agency
420Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,260Jobs in 20245,620 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Arkansas's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +6.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,260 to 5,620, with about 420 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,030 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Arkansas

On federally funded construction in Arkansas, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 2 of the 75 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $43.76 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $17.36). 73 of the 75 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Arkansas County at $17.13). The market median for the state is $22.96.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ARArkansas: $17.13 (survey)Ashley: $17.13 (survey)Baxter: $20.67 (survey)Benton: $18.47 (survey)Boone: $20.67 (survey)Bradley: $17.13 (survey)Calhoun: $16.03 (survey)Carroll: $20.67 (survey)Chicot: $17.13 (survey)Clark: $16.03 (survey)Clay: $17.20 (survey)Cleburne: $17.36 (survey)Cleveland: $16.28 (survey)Columbia: $16.03 (survey)Conway: $20.67 (survey)Craighead: $21.04 (survey)Crawford: $21.00 (survey)Crittenden: $24.81 (survey)Cross: $17.20 (survey)Dallas: $16.03 (survey)Desha: $17.13 (survey)Drew: $17.13 (survey)Faulkner: $18.30 (survey)Franklin: $20.67 (survey)Fulton: $17.20 (survey)Garland: $20.16 (survey)Grant: $20.37 (survey)Greene: $14.18 (survey)Hempstead: $16.03 (survey)Hot Spring: $16.03 (survey)Howard: $16.03 (survey)Independence: $18.19 (survey)Izard: $17.36 (survey)Jackson: $17.20 (survey)Jefferson: $16.28 (survey)Johnson: $21.69 (survey)Lafayette: $16.03 (survey)Lawrence: $17.36 (survey)Lee: $17.36 (survey)Lincoln: $16.28 (survey)Little River: $21.38 (survey)Logan: $20.67 (survey)Lonoke: $15.72 (survey)Madison: $19.75 (survey)Marion: $20.67 (survey)Miller: $21.38 (survey)Mississippi: $17.36 (survey)Monroe: $17.36 (survey)Montgomery: $16.03 (survey)Nevada: $16.03 (survey)Newton: $20.67 (survey)Ouachita: $16.03 (survey)Perry: $20.37 (survey)Phillips: $17.13 (survey)Pike: $16.03 (survey)Poinsett: $22.77 (survey)Polk: $18.85 (survey)Pope: $15.21 (survey)Prairie: $17.13 (survey)Pulaski: $19.77 (survey)Randolph: $20.72 (survey)St. Francis: $17.36 (survey)Saline: $15.40 (survey)Scott: $20.67 (survey)Searcy: $20.67 (survey)Sebastian: $43.76 (union)Sevier: $16.03 (survey)Sharp: $17.36 (survey)Stone: $17.36 (survey)Union: $16.03 (survey)Van Buren: $21.80 (survey)Washington: $43.76 (union)White: $15.41 (survey)Woodruff: $17.36 (survey)Yell: $19.25 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.03$17.17$18.23$20.67survey 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/hrSebastian (Fort Smith): market median $20.39, prevailing (union) $43.76, gap +$23.37Sebastian (Fort Smith)+$23.37Washington (Fayetteville): market median $23.59, prevailing (union) $43.76, gap +$20.17Washington (Fayetteville)+$20.17Poinsett (Jonesboro): market median $21.13, prevailing (survey) $22.77, gap +$1.64Poinsett (Jonesboro)+$1.64Little River (Texarkana): market median $20.51, prevailing (survey) $21.38, gap +$0.87Little River (Texarkana)+$0.87Crittenden (Memphis): market median $24.34, prevailing (survey) $24.81, gap +$0.47Crittenden (Memphis)+$0.47Garland (Hot Springs): market median $20.85, prevailing (survey) $20.16, gap −$0.69Garland (Hot Springs)−$0.69Grant (Little Rock): market median $23.10, prevailing (survey) $20.37, gap −$2.73Grant (Little Rock)−$2.73
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Arkansas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
SebastianUnion CARP0071-002 2024-01-01$31.93$11.83$43.76AR20260034
WashingtonUnion CARP0071-003 2024-01-01$31.93$11.83$43.76AR20260035
CrittendenSurvey SUAR2015-023 2017-01-09$20.00$4.81$24.81AR20260026
PoinsettSurvey SUAR2015-028 2017-01-09$17.96$4.81$22.77AR20260031
Van BurenSurvey SUAR2015-011 2017-01-09$21.80$0.00$21.80AR20260014
JohnsonSurvey SUAR2015-005 2017-01-09$17.05$4.64$21.69AR20260008
Little RiverSurvey SUAR2015-035 2017-01-09$17.86$3.52$21.38AR20260038
MillerSurvey SUAR2015-035 2017-01-09$17.86$3.52$21.38AR20260038
CraigheadSurvey SUAR2015-021 2017-01-09$17.73$3.31$21.04AR20260024
CrawfordSurvey SUAR2015-022 2017-01-09$16.90$4.10$21.00AR20260025
RandolphSurvey SUAR2015-009 2017-01-09$20.72$0.00$20.72AR20260012
BaxterSurvey SUAR2015-016 2017-01-09$17.07$3.60$20.67AR20260019
BooneSurvey SUAR2015-016 2017-01-09$17.07$3.60$20.67AR20260019
CarrollSurvey SUAR2015-016 2017-01-09$17.07$3.60$20.67AR20260019
ConwaySurvey SUAR2015-016 2017-01-09$17.07$3.60$20.67AR20260019

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Arkansas prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Arkansas?

68.0kConstruction jobsArkansas, 2026-09
+1.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202568kSep 2026
Construction employment in Arkansas (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Arkansas

More on Arkansas

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Arkansas?

The median carpenter in Arkansas earned $22.96 an hour ($47,760 a year) in May 2025, 21% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $19.93–$27.65; the top 10% earn more than $33.92.

Where does Arkansas rank for carpenter pay?

Arkansas ranks 50th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $22.96 an hour, and 40th after adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 86.9, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Arkansas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 2 counties, with a typical package of $43.76 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Arkansas?

BLS counted 4,030 carpenters in Arkansas in May 2025, 3.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.72; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Arkansas?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Arkansas went from 4,290 in 2015 to 4,030 in 2025, -6.1%, and +10.1% since 2019. Arkansas's labor market agency projects +6.8% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 5,260 to 5,620 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Arkansas?

Arkansas projects about 420 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, Arkansas 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: Arkansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.