Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in California

Median $36.50 an hour for 100,750 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$36.50/hrMedian hourly wageCalifornia, May data
$75,920/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.83 – $57.6710th to 90th percentilehourly range
100,750Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in California: the full range

Wage percentiles, CaliforniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrCalifornia: 10th $22.83 · 25th $28.72 · median $36.50 · 75th $46.07 · 90th $57.67California$36.50$22.83$57.67United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: California vs United States, May 2025.

California ranks 3rd of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.97). 100,750 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.83 – $28.72$47,490 – $59,740roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.72 – $46.07$59,740 – $95,830the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$46.07 – $57.67$95,830 – $119,950the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in California

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSan Francisco: $42.89San Francisco$42.89Napa: $38.75Napa$38.75Santa Rosa: $38.71Santa Rosa$38.71San Jose: $38.55San Jose$38.55Santa Cruz: $37.35Santa Cruz$37.35San Luis Obispo: $37.12San Luis Obispo$37.12Vallejo: $36.64Vallejo$36.64Yuba City: $36.59Yuba City$36.59Los Angeles: $36.41Los Angeles$36.41Santa Maria: $36.12Santa Maria$36.12Merced: $35.94Merced$35.94Sacramento: $35.79Sacramento$35.79
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in California, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
San Francisco$28.38$42.89$37.10$63.8314,01018% above
Napa$26.38$38.75$34.41$64.066506% above
Santa Rosa$24.56$38.71$35.91$58.412,1506% above
San Jose$26.54$38.55$34.92$64.364,4606% above
Santa Cruz$23.18$37.35$33.99$54.957002% above
San Luis Obispo$23.30$37.12$34.18$61.718202% above
Vallejo$24.54$36.64$33.77$60.97660about the same as
Yuba City$23.15$36.59$35.12$56.19220about the same as
Los Angeles$22.53$36.41$32.05$56.4630,600about the same as
Santa Maria$22.59$36.12$33.20$50.791,1001% below
Merced$21.64$35.94$36.56$51.323502% below
Sacramento$21.94$35.79$33.54$55.179,7302% below
El Centro$21.36$35.74$37.54$47.951402% below
Oxnard$23.62$35.61$32.23$52.082,0502% below
Modesto$23.54$35.45$34.05$56.611,4303% below
Hanford$22.92$35.22$34.67$56.051104% below
San Diego$22.75$35.19$31.45$56.538,7104% below
Chico$22.73$34.75$34.34$55.833905% below
Redding$22.83$34.50$34.26$49.233105% below
Riverside$22.32$34.08$32.03$53.8312,9707% below
Stockton$23.09$33.25$31.64$52.321,2609% below
Salinas$23.04$32.47$29.79$50.301,21011% below
Bakersfield$21.69$31.99$31.70$50.391,10012% below
Visalia$21.42$30.96$31.02$47.7765015% below
Fresno$21.88$30.52$29.86$54.431,79016% below

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

Carpenter wages in California over time

California, 1999-2025CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$36.50California$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, California vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearCalifornia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.82$38.30$15.35112,610
2000$19.34$36.16$15.69121,260
2001$19.90$36.18$16.09121,650
2002$20.49$36.67$16.44121,900
2003$20.49$35.85$16.47117,890
2004$22.47$38.30$16.78124,140
2005$22.81$37.60$17.11137,270
2006$23.50$37.53$17.57144,450
2007$23.77$36.91$18.11128,280
2008$24.63$36.83$18.72106,130
2009$24.92$37.40$18.9881,250
2010$25.49$37.63$19.0063,610
2011$26.11$37.37$19.2456,480
2012$25.79$36.16$19.2057,470
2013$25.28$34.94$19.4763,110
2014$23.84$32.42$19.6373,040
2015$24.33$33.05$20.2482,540
2016$25.24$33.86$20.9691,780
2017$26.15$34.35$21.7196,460
2018$27.29$34.99$22.40100,570
2019$28.22$35.54$23.24106,300
2020$29.53$36.73$23.81103,640
2021$29.25$34.75$23.20100,950
2022$30.83$33.92$24.71111,340
2023$32.87$34.73$27.09102,870
2024$35.97$36.92$28.51106,500
2025$36.50$36.50$29.12100,750

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in California changed by +10.4% over the last ten years of data and by +2.7% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in California?

-5.2%Jobs since 2019106,300 then, 100,750 in 2025
+22.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 14th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in California has changed by -10.5%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -5.2%.

Carpenters in California vs United States, 1999 = 100CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages25507510012515020002005201020152020202590California87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, California vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearCalifornia jobsCalifornia indexUS index
1999112,610100100
2000121,260108111
2001121,650108110
2002121,900108111
2003117,890105110
2004124,140110114
2005137,270122121
2006144,450128128
2007128,280114126
2008106,13094117
200981,2507296
201063,6105680
201156,4805075
201257,4705174
201363,1105675
201473,0406580
201582,5407383
201691,7808288
201796,4608690
2018100,5708993
2019106,3009495
2020103,6409291
2021100,9509087
2022111,3409990
2023102,8709191
2024106,5009590
2025100,7509087

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 California

+6.4%Projected growth in California2024–2034, state agency
11,040Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
138,400Jobs in 2024147,200 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

California's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +6.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 138,400 to 147,200, with about 11,040 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 100,750 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in California

On federally funded construction in California, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 52 of the 58 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $86.68 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.00). 6 of the 58 counties still use a survey rate dated 1985 or earlier (for example Amador County at $25.04). The market median for the state is $36.50.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, CAAlameda: $93.91 (union)Alpine: $86.68 (union)Amador: $25.04 (survey)Butte: $86.68 (union)Calaveras: $93.91 (union)Colusa: $86.68 (union)Contra Costa: $93.91 (union)Del Norte: $26.00 (survey)El Dorado: $86.68 (union)Fresno: $93.91 (union)Glenn: $86.68 (union)Humboldt: $26.00 (survey)Imperial: $78.42 (union)Inyo: $68.41 (union)Kern: $68.41 (union)Kings: $93.91 (union)Lake: $26.00 (survey)Lassen: $86.68 (union)Los Angeles: $78.42 (union)Madera: $93.91 (union)Marin: $86.68 (union)Mariposa: $93.91 (union)Mendocino: $26.00 (survey)Merced: $93.91 (union)Modoc: $86.68 (union)Mono: $68.41 (union)Monterey: $93.91 (union)Napa: $86.68 (union)Nevada: $86.68 (union)Orange: $78.42 (union)Placer: $86.68 (union)Plumas: $86.68 (union)Riverside: $78.42 (union)Sacramento: $86.68 (union)San Benito: $93.91 (union)San Bernardino: $78.42 (union)San Diego: $75.12 (union)San Francisco: $93.91 (union)San Joaquin: $93.91 (union)San Luis Obispo: $78.42 (union)San Mateo: $93.91 (union)Santa Barbara: $78.42 (union)Santa Clara: $93.91 (union)Santa Cruz: $93.91 (union)Shasta: $86.68 (union)Sierra: $86.68 (union)Siskiyou: $86.68 (union)Solano: $86.68 (union)Sonoma: $86.68 (union)Stanislaus: $93.91 (union)Sutter: $86.68 (union)Tehama: $86.68 (union)Trinity: $86.68 (union)Tulare: $17.60 (survey)Tuolumne: $93.91 (union)Ventura: $78.42 (union)Yolo: $86.68 (union)Yuba: $86.68 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$78.42$86.68survey 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)$20$40$60$80$100/hrFresno (Fresno): market median $30.52, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$63.39Fresno (Fresno)+$63.39Monterey (Salinas): market median $32.47, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$61.44Monterey (Salinas)+$61.44San Joaquin (Stockton): market median $33.25, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$60.66San Joaquin (Stockton)+$60.66Kings (Hanford): market median $35.22, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$58.69Kings (Hanford)+$58.69Stanislaus (Modesto): market median $35.45, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$58.46Stanislaus (Modesto)+$58.46Merced (Merced): market median $35.94, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$57.97Merced (Merced)+$57.97Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz): market median $37.35, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$56.56Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz)+$56.56San Benito (San Jose): market median $38.55, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$55.36San Benito (San Jose)+$55.36Shasta (Redding): market median $34.50, prevailing (union) $86.68, gap +$52.18Shasta (Redding)+$52.18Butte (Chico): market median $34.75, prevailing (union) $86.68, gap +$51.93Butte (Chico)+$51.93Alameda (San Francisco): market median $42.89, prevailing (union) $93.91, gap +$51.02Alameda (San Francisco)+$51.02El Dorado (Sacramento): market median $35.79, prevailing (union) $86.68, gap +$50.89El Dorado (Sacramento)+$50.89Sutter (Yuba City): market median $36.59, prevailing (union) $86.68, gap +$50.09Sutter (Yuba City)+$50.09Solano (Vallejo): market median $36.64, prevailing (union) $86.68, gap +$50.04Solano (Vallejo)+$50.04Sonoma (Santa Rosa): market median $38.71, prevailing (union) $86.68, gap +$47.97Sonoma (Santa Rosa)+$47.97Napa (Napa): market median $38.75, prevailing (union) $86.68, gap +$47.93Napa (Napa)+$47.93Riverside (Riverside): market median $34.08, prevailing (union) $78.42, gap +$44.34Riverside (Riverside)+$44.34Imperial (El Centro): market median $35.74, prevailing (union) $78.42, gap +$42.68Imperial (El Centro)+$42.68Los Angeles (Los Angeles): market median $36.41, prevailing (union) $78.42, gap +$42.01Los Angeles (Los Angeles)+$42.01San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo): market median $37.12, prevailing (union) $78.42, gap +$41.30San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo)+$41.30
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in California.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlamedaUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
CalaverasUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
Contra CostaUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
FresnoUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
KingsUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
MaderaUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
MariposaUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
MercedUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
MontereyUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
San BenitoUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
San FranciscoUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
San JoaquinUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
San MateoUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
Santa ClaraUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018
Santa CruzUnion CARP0217-001 2023-07-01$60.39$33.52$93.91CA20260018

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

Is construction work growing in California?

895.7kConstruction jobsCalifornia, 2026-09
-0.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k1,200k19901995200020052010201520202025896kSep 2026
Construction employment in California (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in California

More on California

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in California?

The median carpenter in California earned $36.50 an hour ($75,920 a year) in May 2025, 25% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $28.72–$46.07; the top 10% earn more than $57.67.

Where does California rank for carpenter pay?

California ranks 3rd of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $36.50 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in California?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 52 counties, with a typical package of $86.68 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in California?

BLS counted 100,750 carpenters in California in May 2025, 5.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.28; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in California?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in California went from 82,540 in 2015 to 100,750 in 2025, +22.1%, and -5.2% since 2019. California's labor market agency projects +6.4% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 138,400 to 147,200 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in California?

California projects about 11,040 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, California 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: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.