Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Colorado

Median $30.21 an hour for 12,740 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.21/hrMedian hourly wageColorado, May data
$62,830/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.61 – $43.6210th to 90th percentilehourly range
12,740Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Colorado: the full range

Wage percentiles, ColoradoMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrColorado: 10th $22.61 · 25th $24.97 · median $30.21 · 75th $35.78 · 90th $43.62Colorado$30.21$22.61$43.62United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Colorado vs United States, May 2025.

Colorado ranks 14th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 24th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.30). 12,740 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$22.61 – $24.97$47,020 – $51,940roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.97 – $35.78$51,940 – $74,430the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$35.78 – $43.62$74,430 – $90,740the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Colorado

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrDenver: $31.21Denver$31.21Grand Junction: $28.96Grand Junction$28.96Boulder: $28.73Boulder$28.73Fort Collins: $28.04Fort Collins$28.04Greeley: $27.83Greeley$27.83Colorado Springs: $27.61Colorado Springs$27.61Pueblo: $27.00Pueblo$27.00
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Colorado, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Denver$23.15$31.21$29.50$43.267,2503% above
Grand Junction$21.29$28.96$30.32$38.513404% below
Boulder$20.51$28.73$27.31$39.095405% below
Fort Collins$19.64$28.04$27.73$36.935107% below
Greeley$22.05$27.83$27.77$35.285608% below
Colorado Springs$20.72$27.61$27.42$37.041,2209% below
Pueblo$18.52$27.00$29.41$37.2018011% below

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

Carpenter wages in Colorado over time

Colorado, 1999-2025ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.21Colorado$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Colorado vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearColorado $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.57$30.09$15.3513,250
2000$16.48$30.81$15.6917,770
2001$16.78$30.50$16.0916,320
2002$16.75$29.98$16.4417,050
2003$16.59$29.03$16.4717,370
2004$17.16$29.25$16.7816,100
2005$17.55$28.93$17.1117,180
2006$17.96$28.68$17.5717,150
2007$18.03$28.00$18.1117,700
2008$18.65$27.89$18.7216,710
2009$18.96$28.45$18.9814,630
2010$18.98$28.02$19.0012,520
2011$18.71$26.78$19.2411,810
2012$18.42$25.83$19.2010,960
2013$18.79$25.97$19.4710,950
2014$19.74$26.84$19.6312,720
2015$20.13$27.34$20.2413,050
2016$20.14$27.02$20.9613,410
2017$21.11$27.73$21.7113,750
2018$22.86$29.31$22.4014,170
2019$24.07$30.31$23.2414,850
2020$24.97$31.06$23.8113,600
2021$23.31$27.69$23.2014,090
2022$25.63$28.19$24.7114,690
2023$27.78$29.35$27.0915,970
2024$28.60$29.35$28.5113,840
2025$30.21$30.21$29.1212,740

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Colorado changed by +10.5% over the last ten years of data and by -0.3% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Colorado?

-14.2%Jobs since 201914,850 then, 12,740 in 2025
-2.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 29th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Colorado has changed by -3.8%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -14.2%.

Carpenters in Colorado vs United States, 1999 = 100ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages608010012014016020002005201020152020202596Colorado87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Colorado vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearColorado jobsColorado indexUS index
199913,250100100
200017,770134111
200116,320123110
200217,050129111
200317,370131110
200416,100122114
200517,180130121
200617,150129128
200717,700134126
200816,710126117
200914,63011096
201012,5209480
201111,8108975
201210,9608374
201310,9508375
201412,7209680
201513,0509883
201613,41010188
201713,75010490
201814,17010793
201914,85011295
202013,60010391
202114,09010687
202214,69011190
202315,97012091
202413,84010490
202512,7409687

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 Colorado

+20.1%Projected growth in Colorado2024–2034, state agency
1,860Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
17,880Jobs in 202421,480 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Colorado's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +20.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 17,880 to 21,480, with about 1,860 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 12,740 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Colorado

On federally funded construction in Colorado, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 50 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.28 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $27.95). 14 of the 64 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Arapahoe County at $29.46). The market median for the state is $30.21.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, COAdams: $48.93 (union)Alamosa: $45.28 (union)Arapahoe: $29.46 (survey)Archuleta: $45.28 (union)Baca: $45.28 (union)Bent: $45.28 (union)Boulder: $29.45 (survey)Broomfield: $27.95 (survey)Chaffee: $45.28 (union)Cheyenne: $45.28 (union)Clear Creek: $27.95 (survey)Conejos: $45.28 (union)Costilla: $45.28 (union)Crowley: $45.28 (union)Custer: $45.28 (union)Delta: $45.28 (union)Denver: $27.40 (survey)Dolores: $45.28 (union)Douglas: $48.93 (union)Eagle: $45.28 (union)Elbert: $27.95 (survey)El Paso: $29.61 (survey)Fremont: $45.28 (union)Garfield: $45.28 (union)Gilpin: $27.95 (survey)Grand: $45.28 (union)Gunnison: $45.28 (union)Hinsdale: $45.28 (union)Huerfano: $45.28 (union)Jackson: $45.28 (union)Jefferson: $48.93 (union)Kiowa: $45.28 (union)Kit Carson: $45.28 (union)Lake: $45.28 (union)La Plata: $45.28 (union)Larimer: $26.70 (survey)Las Animas: $45.28 (union)Lincoln: $45.28 (union)Logan: $45.28 (union)Mesa: $20.53 (survey)Mineral: $45.28 (union)Moffat: $45.28 (union)Montezuma: $45.28 (union)Montrose: $45.28 (union)Morgan: $45.28 (union)Otero: $45.28 (union)Ouray: $45.28 (union)Park: $24.60 (survey)Phillips: $45.28 (union)Pitkin: $45.28 (union)Prowers: $45.28 (union)Pueblo: $20.64 (survey)Rio Blanco: $45.28 (union)Rio Grande: $45.28 (union)Routt: $45.28 (union)Saguache: $45.28 (union)San Juan: $45.28 (union)San Miguel: $45.28 (union)Sedgwick: $45.28 (union)Summit: $45.28 (union)Teller: $29.61 (survey)Washington: $45.28 (union)Weld: $18.22 (survey)Yuma: $45.28 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$29.61$45.28survey 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$60/hrAdams (Denver): market median $31.21, prevailing (union) $48.93, gap +$17.72Adams (Denver)+$17.72El Paso (Colorado Springs): market median $27.61, prevailing (survey) $29.61, gap +$2.00El Paso (Colorado Springs)+$2.00Boulder (Boulder): market median $28.73, prevailing (survey) $29.45, gap +$0.72Boulder (Boulder)+$0.72Larimer (Fort Collins): market median $28.04, prevailing (survey) $26.70, gap −$1.34Larimer (Fort Collins)−$1.34Pueblo (Pueblo): market median $27.00, prevailing (survey) $20.64, gap −$6.36Pueblo (Pueblo)−$6.36Mesa (Grand Junction): market median $28.96, prevailing (survey) $20.53, gap −$8.43Mesa (Grand Junction)−$8.43Weld (Greeley): market median $27.83, prevailing (survey) $18.22, gap −$9.61Weld (Greeley)−$9.61
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Colorado.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdamsUnion CARP0055-004 2025-05-01$35.09$13.84$48.93CO20260015
DouglasUnion CARP0055-005 2025-05-01$35.09$13.84$48.93CO20260021
JeffersonUnion CARP0055-004 2025-05-01$35.09$13.84$48.93CO20260023
AlamosaUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
ArchuletaUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
BacaUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
BentUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
ChaffeeUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
CheyenneUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
ConejosUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
CostillaUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
CrowleyUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
CusterUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
DeltaUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001
DoloresUnion CARP9901-006 2024-05-01$33.11$12.17$45.28CO20260001

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

Is construction work growing in Colorado?

193.6kConstruction jobsColorado, 2026-09
+3.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025194kSep 2026
Construction employment in Colorado (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Colorado

More on Colorado

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Colorado?

The median carpenter in Colorado earned $30.21 an hour ($62,830 a year) in May 2025, 4% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $24.97–$35.78; the top 10% earn more than $43.62.

Where does Colorado rank for carpenter pay?

Colorado ranks 14th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $30.21 an hour, and 24th after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.1, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Colorado?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 50 counties, with a typical package of $45.28 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Colorado?

BLS counted 12,740 carpenters in Colorado in May 2025, 4.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.03; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Colorado?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Colorado went from 13,050 in 2015 to 12,740 in 2025, -2.4%, and -14.2% since 2019. Colorado's labor market agency projects +20.1% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 17,880 to 21,480 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Colorado?

Colorado projects about 1,860 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, Colorado 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: Colorado labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.