Carpenter salary in Connecticut
Median $30.80 an hour for 5,160 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Carpenter pay in Connecticut: the full range
Connecticut ranks 9th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 22nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.73). 5,160 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $23.62 – $27.66 | $49,140 – $57,540 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $27.66 – $38.86 | $57,540 – $80,820 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $38.86 – $42.31 | $80,820 – $88,000 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in Connecticut
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | $24.43 | $31.61 | $30.22 | $42.94 | 730 | 3% above |
| Hartford | $23.53 | $31.14 | $30.32 | $47.59 | 1,660 | 1% above |
| Norwich | $24.26 | $31.01 | $30.89 | $39.28 | 740 | 1% above |
| Bridgeport | $23.41 | $30.39 | $28.43 | $42.31 | 1,100 | 1% below |
| Waterbury | $22.44 | $29.93 | $29.99 | $39.59 | 460 | 3% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Carpenter wages in Connecticut over time
Table
| Year | Connecticut $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.48 | $33.78 | $15.35 | 8,460 |
| 2000 | $18.87 | $35.28 | $15.69 | 8,360 |
| 2001 | $19.75 | $35.90 | $16.09 | 8,600 |
| 2002 | $20.15 | $36.06 | $16.44 | 8,180 |
| 2003 | $20.14 | $35.24 | $16.47 | 8,610 |
| 2004 | $21.51 | $36.66 | $16.78 | 8,600 |
| 2005 | $21.94 | $36.17 | $17.11 | 8,240 |
| 2006 | $22.34 | $35.68 | $17.57 | 8,580 |
| 2007 | $22.57 | $35.04 | $18.11 | 8,470 |
| 2008 | $23.24 | $34.75 | $18.72 | 8,030 |
| 2009 | $23.91 | $35.88 | $18.98 | 6,870 |
| 2010 | $24.15 | $35.66 | $19.00 | 5,750 |
| 2011 | $23.57 | $33.73 | $19.24 | 5,760 |
| 2012 | $22.92 | $32.14 | $19.20 | 5,540 |
| 2013 | $23.32 | $32.23 | $19.47 | 6,100 |
| 2014 | $23.75 | $32.30 | $19.63 | 6,400 |
| 2015 | $24.50 | $33.28 | $20.24 | 6,480 |
| 2016 | $25.18 | $33.78 | $20.96 | 6,010 |
| 2017 | $26.30 | $34.54 | $21.71 | 5,680 |
| 2018 | $27.11 | $34.76 | $22.40 | 5,330 |
| 2019 | $27.65 | $34.82 | $23.24 | 5,590 |
| 2020 | $28.21 | $35.09 | $23.81 | 5,180 |
| 2021 | $29.65 | $35.23 | $23.20 | 5,570 |
| 2022 | $29.67 | $32.64 | $24.71 | 6,720 |
| 2023 | $30.51 | $32.24 | $27.09 | 6,070 |
| 2024 | $30.53 | $31.33 | $28.51 | 5,680 |
| 2025 | $30.80 | $30.80 | $29.12 | 5,160 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Connecticut changed by -7.4% over the last ten years of data and by -11.5% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs in Connecticut?
Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Connecticut has changed by -39.0%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -7.7%.
Table
| Year | Connecticut jobs | Connecticut index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 8,460 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 8,360 | 99 | 111 |
| 2001 | 8,600 | 102 | 110 |
| 2002 | 8,180 | 97 | 111 |
| 2003 | 8,610 | 102 | 110 |
| 2004 | 8,600 | 102 | 114 |
| 2005 | 8,240 | 97 | 121 |
| 2006 | 8,580 | 101 | 128 |
| 2007 | 8,470 | 100 | 126 |
| 2008 | 8,030 | 95 | 117 |
| 2009 | 6,870 | 81 | 96 |
| 2010 | 5,750 | 68 | 80 |
| 2011 | 5,760 | 68 | 75 |
| 2012 | 5,540 | 66 | 74 |
| 2013 | 6,100 | 72 | 75 |
| 2014 | 6,400 | 76 | 80 |
| 2015 | 6,480 | 77 | 83 |
| 2016 | 6,010 | 71 | 88 |
| 2017 | 5,680 | 67 | 90 |
| 2018 | 5,330 | 63 | 93 |
| 2019 | 5,590 | 66 | 95 |
| 2020 | 5,180 | 61 | 91 |
| 2021 | 5,570 | 66 | 87 |
| 2022 | 6,720 | 79 | 90 |
| 2023 | 6,070 | 72 | 91 |
| 2024 | 5,680 | 67 | 90 |
| 2025 | 5,160 | 61 | 87 |
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 Connecticut
Connecticut's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +10.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,090 to 10,020, with about 770 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,160 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Connecticut labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Connecticut
On federally funded construction in Connecticut, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 8 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $71.22 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $30.80.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | Union CARP0326-027 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260020 |
| Hartford | Union CARP0326-027 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260021 |
| Litchfield | Union CARP0326-031 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260019 |
| Middlesex | Union CARP0326-027 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260022 |
| New Haven | Union CARP0326-027 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260023 |
| New London | Union CARP0326-027 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260024 |
| Tolland | Union CARP0326-027 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260025 |
| Windham | Union CARP0326-027 2025-05-05 | $42.03 | $29.19 | $71.22 | CT20260026 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Connecticut prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination. Davis-Bacon determinations still use Connecticut's eight historical counties; employment data uses the nine 2022 planning regions.
Is construction work growing in Connecticut?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Connecticut
More on Connecticut
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in Connecticut?
The median carpenter in Connecticut earned $30.80 an hour ($64,060 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $27.66–$38.86; the top 10% earn more than $42.31.
Where does Connecticut rank for carpenter pay?
Connecticut ranks 9th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $30.80 an hour, and 22nd after adjusting for Connecticut's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.6, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in Connecticut?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 8 counties, with a typical package of $71.22 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many carpenters work in Connecticut?
BLS counted 5,160 carpenters in Connecticut in May 2025, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.71; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is carpenter work growing in Connecticut?
The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Connecticut went from 6,480 in 2015 to 5,160 in 2025, -20.4%, and -7.7% since 2019. Connecticut's labor market agency projects +10.3% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 9,090 to 10,020 jobs.
How many carpenter openings a year are there in Connecticut?
Connecticut projects about 770 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, Connecticut 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: Connecticut labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.