Carpenter salary in Delaware
Median $28.46 an hour for 2,250 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Carpenter pay in Delaware: the full range
Delaware ranks 27th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 29th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.52). 2,250 carpenters work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.71 – $23.35 | $45,160 – $48,560 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.35 – $36.24 | $48,560 – $75,380 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.24 – $39.10 | $75,380 – $81,320 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in Delaware
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $21.97 | $29.70 | $47.34 | 14,260 | 4% above |
| Dover | $21.42 | $25.07 | $37.03 | 270 | 12% below |
Carpenter wages in Delaware over time
Table
| Year | Delaware $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.48 | $27.98 | $15.35 | 2,370 |
| 2000 | $15.91 | $29.75 | $15.69 | 3,320 |
| 2001 | $16.55 | $30.09 | $16.09 | 2,770 |
| 2002 | $16.47 | $29.47 | $16.44 | 2,580 |
| 2003 | $16.47 | $28.82 | $16.47 | 3,010 |
| 2004 | $16.85 | $28.72 | $16.78 | 2,930 |
| 2005 | $18.89 | $31.14 | $17.11 | 3,280 |
| 2006 | $20.25 | $32.34 | $17.57 | 3,580 |
| 2007 | $19.51 | $30.29 | $18.11 | 3,460 |
| 2008 | $20.14 | $30.12 | $18.72 | 2,820 |
| 2009 | $19.78 | $29.68 | $18.98 | 2,130 |
| 2010 | $19.46 | $28.73 | $19.00 | 1,800 |
| 2011 | $18.61 | $26.64 | $19.24 | 2,010 |
| 2012 | $18.53 | $25.98 | $19.20 | 1,870 |
| 2013 | $20.10 | $27.78 | $19.47 | 2,030 |
| 2014 | $20.69 | $28.14 | $19.63 | 1,980 |
| 2015 | $20.69 | $28.10 | $20.24 | 1,900 |
| 2016 | $21.45 | $28.77 | $20.96 | 1,650 |
| 2017 | $22.44 | $29.47 | $21.71 | 1,770 |
| 2018 | $22.85 | $29.30 | $22.40 | 1,950 |
| 2019 | $23.84 | $30.02 | $23.24 | 2,230 |
| 2020 | $22.58 | $28.09 | $23.81 | 1,980 |
| 2021 | $23.22 | $27.59 | $23.20 | 1,630 |
| 2022 | $27.64 | $30.41 | $24.71 | 1,560 |
| 2023 | $28.74 | $30.37 | $27.09 | 1,450 |
| 2024 | $29.38 | $30.15 | $28.51 | 1,650 |
| 2025 | $28.46 | $28.46 | $29.12 | 2,250 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Delaware changed by +1.3% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Delaware
On federally funded construction in Delaware, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 3 of the 3 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $63.61 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $28.46.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | Union CARP0173-009 2025-05-01 | $38.27 | $25.34 | $63.61 | DE20260007 |
| New Castle | Union CARP0173-009 2025-05-01 | $38.27 | $25.34 | $63.61 | DE20260008 |
| Sussex | Union CARP0173-011 2025-05-01 | $32.87 | $18.98 | $51.85 | DE20260009 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Delaware prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Delaware?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Delaware
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in Delaware?
The median carpenter in Delaware earned $28.46 an hour ($59,200 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $23.35–$36.24; the top 10% earn more than $39.10.
Where does Delaware rank for carpenter pay?
Delaware ranks 27th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $28.46 an hour, and 29th after adjusting for Delaware's cost of living (BEA price parity 99.8, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in Delaware?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 3 counties, with a typical package of $63.61 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many carpenters work in Delaware?
BLS counted 2,250 carpenters in Delaware in May 2025, 4.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.08; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Delaware and metro areas, SOC 47-2031.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.