Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Iowa

Median $27.75 an hour for 5,770 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.75/hrMedian hourly wageIowa, May data
$57,710/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.77 – $36.8010th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,770Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Iowa: the full range

Wage percentiles, IowaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIowa: 10th $18.77 · 25th $22.91 · median $27.75 · 75th $31.69 · 90th $36.80Iowa$27.75$18.77$36.80United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Iowa vs United States, May 2025.

Iowa ranks 31st of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.61). 5,770 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.77 – $22.91$39,040 – $47,640roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.91 – $31.69$47,640 – $65,910the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$31.69 – $36.80$65,910 – $76,540the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Iowa

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrDes Moines: $29.50Des Moines$29.50Davenport: $29.06Davenport$29.06Dubuque: $28.89Dubuque$28.89Cedar Rapids: $28.33Cedar Rapids$28.33Waterloo: $26.85Waterloo$26.85Ames: $26.75Ames$26.75Omaha: $25.39Omaha$25.39Sioux City: $24.57Sioux City$24.57Iowa City: $23.89Iowa City$23.89
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Iowa, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Des Moines$21.42$29.50$32.17$36.861,8106% above
Davenport$19.00$29.06$32.62$44.016705% above
Dubuque$19.19$28.89$33.09$37.462604% above
Cedar Rapids$20.30$28.33$31.83$35.285302% above
Waterloo$18.69$26.85$30.83$37.972603% below
Ames$18.81$26.75$30.12$31.772104% below
Omaha$19.43$25.39$27.63$35.623,2309% below
Sioux City$17.18$24.57$28.40$34.4935011% below
Iowa City$17.82$23.89$26.11$34.5636014% below

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

Carpenter wages in Iowa over time

Iowa, 1999-2025IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$27.75Iowa
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Iowa vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIowa $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.13$25.37$15.358,150
2000$12.68$23.71$15.697,410
2001$13.37$24.30$16.097,590
2002$13.81$24.71$16.448,160
2003$13.73$24.02$16.478,160
2004$14.73$25.10$16.789,150
2005$15.48$25.52$17.118,320
2006$15.34$24.50$17.5710,760
2007$15.44$23.97$18.1110,320
2008$15.58$23.30$18.7210,170
2009$16.42$24.64$18.988,550
2010$16.48$24.33$19.007,180
2011$17.45$24.98$19.246,100
2012$17.56$24.62$19.205,680
2013$17.82$24.63$19.475,960
2014$18.36$24.97$19.636,880
2015$18.76$25.48$20.247,680
2016$19.06$25.57$20.968,180
2017$19.54$25.66$21.716,650
2018$19.83$25.42$22.405,910
2019$21.15$26.63$23.245,800
2020$21.83$27.16$23.816,300
2021$22.47$26.70$23.206,380
2022$23.06$25.37$24.716,320
2023$23.48$24.81$27.096,740
2024$26.00$26.68$28.516,650
2025$27.75$27.75$29.125,770

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Iowa changed by +8.9% over the last ten years of data and by +4.2% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Iowa?

-0.5%Jobs since 20195,800 then, 5,770 in 2025
-24.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 35th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Iowa has changed by -29.2%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -0.5%.

Carpenters in Iowa vs United States, 1999 = 100IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages608010012014020002005201020152020202587United States71Iowa
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Iowa vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearIowa jobsIowa indexUS index
19998,150100100
20007,41091111
20017,59093110
20028,160100111
20038,160100110
20049,150112114
20058,320102121
200610,760132128
200710,320127126
200810,170125117
20098,55010596
20107,1808880
20116,1007575
20125,6807074
20135,9607375
20146,8808480
20157,6809483
20168,18010088
20176,6508290
20185,9107293
20195,8007195
20206,3007791
20216,3807887
20226,3207890
20236,7408391
20246,6508290
20255,7707187

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 Iowa

+6.7%Projected growth in Iowa2024–2034, state agency
600Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,500Jobs in 20248,000 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Iowa's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +6.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,500 to 8,000, with about 600 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,770 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Iowa

On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 17 of the 99 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $56.93 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $29.29). 82 of the 99 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Adair County at $29.29). The market median for the state is $27.75.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IAAdair: $29.29 (survey)Adams: $29.29 (survey)Allamakee: $31.10 (survey)Appanoose: $35.47 (survey)Audubon: $29.29 (survey)Benton: $55.32 (union)Black Hawk: $28.63 (survey)Boone: $29.29 (survey)Bremer: $29.74 (survey)Buchanan: $31.10 (survey)Buena Vista: $22.03 (survey)Butler: $31.10 (survey)Calhoun: $22.03 (survey)Carroll: $29.29 (survey)Cass: $29.29 (survey)Cedar: $16.04 (survey)Cerro Gordo: $20.88 (survey)Cherokee: $22.03 (survey)Chickasaw: $31.10 (survey)Clarke: $29.29 (survey)Clay: $22.03 (survey)Clayton: $55.30 (union)Clinton: $63.78 (union)Crawford: $23.63 (survey)Dallas: $56.93 (union)Davis: $35.58 (survey)Decatur: $29.29 (survey)Delaware: $55.30 (union)Des Moines: $24.26 (survey)Dickinson: $22.03 (survey)Dubuque: $55.30 (union)Emmet: $22.03 (survey)Fayette: $31.10 (survey)Floyd: $31.10 (survey)Franklin: $31.10 (survey)Fremont: $29.29 (survey)Greene: $29.29 (survey)Grundy: $28.72 (survey)Guthrie: $56.93 (union)Hamilton: $22.03 (survey)Hancock: $22.03 (survey)Hardin: $31.10 (survey)Harrison: $31.53 (survey)Henry: $35.58 (survey)Howard: $31.10 (survey)Humboldt: $22.03 (survey)Ida: $22.03 (survey)Iowa: $58.89 (union)Jackson: $35.58 (survey)Jasper: $35.47 (survey)Jefferson: $35.58 (survey)Johnson: $58.89 (union)Jones: $55.32 (union)Keokuk: $35.58 (survey)Kossuth: $22.03 (survey)Lee: $55.32 (union)Linn: $55.32 (union)Louisa: $35.58 (survey)Lucas: $29.29 (survey)Lyon: $22.03 (survey)Madison: $56.93 (union)Mahaska: $35.58 (survey)Marion: $35.58 (survey)Marshall: $35.58 (survey)Mills: $31.53 (survey)Mitchell: $31.10 (survey)Monona: $29.29 (survey)Monroe: $35.58 (survey)Montgomery: $29.29 (survey)Muscatine: $63.78 (union)O'Brien: $22.03 (survey)Osceola: $22.03 (survey)Page: $29.29 (survey)Palo Alto: $22.03 (survey)Plymouth: $22.03 (survey)Pocahontas: $22.03 (survey)Polk: $36.10 (survey)Pottawattamie: $31.27 (survey)Poweshiek: $35.58 (survey)Ringgold: $29.29 (survey)Sac: $22.03 (survey)Scott: $63.78 (union)Shelby: $29.29 (survey)Sioux: $22.03 (survey)Story: $34.95 (survey)Tama: $35.58 (survey)Taylor: $29.29 (survey)Union: $29.29 (survey)Van Buren: $35.58 (survey)Wapello: $33.35 (survey)Warren: $56.93 (union)Washington: $27.06 (survey)Wayne: $29.29 (survey)Webster: $22.03 (survey)Winnebago: $22.03 (survey)Winneshiek: $31.10 (survey)Woodbury: $50.15 (union)Worth: $31.10 (survey)Wright: $22.03 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$22.03$29.29$31.10$35.58survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrJohnson (Iowa City): market median $23.89, prevailing (union) $58.89, gap +$35.00Johnson (Iowa City)+$35.00Scott (Davenport): market median $29.06, prevailing (union) $63.78, gap +$34.72Scott (Davenport)+$34.72Dallas (Des Moines): market median $29.50, prevailing (union) $56.93, gap +$27.43Dallas (Des Moines)+$27.43Benton (Cedar Rapids): market median $28.33, prevailing (union) $55.32, gap +$26.99Benton (Cedar Rapids)+$26.99Dubuque (Dubuque): market median $28.89, prevailing (union) $55.30, gap +$26.41Dubuque (Dubuque)+$26.41Woodbury (Sioux City): market median $24.57, prevailing (union) $50.15, gap +$25.58Woodbury (Sioux City)+$25.58Story (Ames): market median $26.75, prevailing (survey) $34.95, gap +$8.20Story (Ames)+$8.20Harrison (Omaha): market median $25.39, prevailing (survey) $31.53, gap +$6.14Harrison (Omaha)+$6.14Bremer (Waterloo): market median $26.85, prevailing (survey) $29.74, gap +$2.89Bremer (Waterloo)+$2.89
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Iowa.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ClintonUnion CARP0004-013 2025-05-01$34.25$29.53$63.78IA20260038
MuscatineUnion CARP0004-012 2025-05-01$34.25$29.53$63.78IA20260050
ScottUnion CARP0004-012 2025-05-01$34.25$29.53$63.78IA20260073
IowaUnion CARP1260-002 2025-05-01$34.14$24.75$58.89IA20260045
JohnsonUnion CARP1260-003 2025-05-01$34.14$24.75$58.89IA20260068
DallasUnion CARP0106-001 2025-05-01$35.50$21.43$56.93IA20260064
GuthrieUnion CARP0106-001 2025-05-01$35.50$21.43$56.93IA20260079
MadisonUnion CARP0106-001 2025-05-01$35.50$21.43$56.93IA20260079
WarrenUnion CARP0106-001 2025-05-01$35.50$21.43$56.93IA20260075
BentonUnion CARP0308-003 2024-05-01$31.17$24.15$55.32IA20260078
JonesUnion CARP0308-003 2024-05-01$31.17$24.15$55.32IA20260078
LeeUnion CARP1260-004 2024-05-01$31.17$24.15$55.32IA20260047
LinnUnion CARP0308-003 2024-05-01$31.17$24.15$55.32IA20260069
ClaytonUnion CARP0678-006 2025-05-01$30.55$24.75$55.30IA20260059
DelawareUnion CARP0678-006 2025-05-01$30.55$24.75$55.30IA20260059

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

Is construction work growing in Iowa?

92.4kConstruction jobsIowa, 2026-09
+4.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202592kSep 2026
Construction employment in Iowa (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Iowa

More on Iowa

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Iowa?

The median carpenter in Iowa earned $27.75 an hour ($57,710 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $22.91–$31.69; the top 10% earn more than $36.80.

Where does Iowa rank for carpenter pay?

Iowa ranks 31st of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $27.75 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 17 counties, with a typical package of $56.93 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Iowa?

BLS counted 5,770 carpenters in Iowa in May 2025, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.86; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Iowa?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Iowa went from 7,680 in 2015 to 5,770 in 2025, -24.9%, and -0.5% since 2019. Iowa's labor market agency projects +6.7% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 7,500 to 8,000 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Iowa?

Iowa projects about 600 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, Iowa 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: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.