Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Kansas

Median $27.39 an hour for 5,210 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.39/hrMedian hourly wageKansas, May data
$56,960/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.68 – $42.3510th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,210Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Kansas: the full range

Wage percentiles, KansasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrKansas: 10th $18.68 · 25th $22.99 · median $27.39 · 75th $32.08 · 90th $42.35Kansas$27.39$18.68$42.35United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Kansas vs United States, May 2025.

Kansas ranks 32nd of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.40). 5,210 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.68 – $22.99$38,860 – $47,830roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.99 – $32.08$47,830 – $66,730the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$32.08 – $42.35$66,730 – $88,090the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Kansas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrKansas City: $29.72Kansas City$29.72St. Joseph: $28.92St. Joseph$28.92Lawrence: $28.75Lawrence$28.75Manhattan: $24.81Manhattan$24.81Topeka: $24.62Topeka$24.62Wichita: $24.49Wichita$24.49Joplin: $23.34Joplin$23.34
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Kansas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Kansas City$21.61$29.72$32.13$46.354,5409% above
St. Joseph$18.21$28.92$33.47$42.962206% above
Lawrence$22.68$28.75$31.87$45.892805% above
Manhattan$19.00$24.81$27.51$35.603009% below
Topeka$18.26$24.62$27.73$34.8236010% below
Wichita$18.26$24.49$27.55$37.501,21011% below
Joplin$15.39$23.34$27.23$40.8130015% below

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

Carpenter wages in Kansas over time

Kansas, 1999-2025KansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$27.39Kansas
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Kansas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKansas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.65$26.38$15.356,240
2000$14.68$27.45$15.697,730
2001$15.26$27.74$16.097,940
2002$14.93$26.72$16.447,340
2003$15.42$26.98$16.477,620
2004$16.03$27.32$16.787,760
2005$16.32$26.90$17.117,470
2006$16.57$26.46$17.577,380
2007$17.01$26.41$18.117,670
2008$17.69$26.45$18.727,160
2009$17.52$26.29$18.986,370
2010$17.48$25.81$19.005,590
2011$17.61$25.20$19.245,350
2012$17.92$25.13$19.205,290
2013$17.65$24.39$19.475,670
2014$17.75$24.14$19.636,210
2015$17.90$24.31$20.245,880
2016$18.55$24.88$20.965,560
2017$18.82$24.72$21.715,150
2018$19.35$24.81$22.405,580
2019$19.11$24.06$23.245,760
2020$19.54$24.31$23.815,700
2021$21.83$25.94$23.205,540
2022$23.19$25.51$24.715,530
2023$23.33$24.65$27.095,390
2024$24.79$25.44$28.515,120
2025$27.39$27.39$29.125,210

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Kansas changed by +12.7% over the last ten years of data and by +13.8% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Kansas?

-9.5%Jobs since 20195,760 then, 5,210 in 2025
-11.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 36th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Kansas has changed by -16.5%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -9.5%.

Carpenters in Kansas vs United States, 1999 = 100KansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages608010012014020002005201020152020202587United States84Kansas
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Kansas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearKansas jobsKansas indexUS index
19996,240100100
20007,730124111
20017,940127110
20027,340118111
20037,620122110
20047,760124114
20057,470120121
20067,380118128
20077,670123126
20087,160115117
20096,37010296
20105,5909080
20115,3508675
20125,2908574
20135,6709175
20146,21010080
20155,8809483
20165,5608988
20175,1508290
20185,5808993
20195,7609295
20205,7009191
20215,5408987
20225,5308990
20235,3908691
20245,1208290
20255,2108487

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 Kansas

+4.0%Projected growth in Kansas2024–2034, state agency
550Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,140Jobs in 20247,430 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kansas's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +4.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,140 to 7,430, with about 550 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,210 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Kansas

On federally funded construction in Kansas, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 105 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $67.03 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $22.99). 97 of the 105 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Allen County at $22.99). The market median for the state is $27.39.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KSAllen: $22.99 (survey)Anderson: $22.99 (survey)Atchison: $22.99 (survey)Barber: $22.99 (survey)Barton: $22.99 (survey)Bourbon: $22.99 (survey)Brown: $22.99 (survey)Butler: $19.55 (survey)Chase: $21.73 (survey)Chautauqua: $22.99 (survey)Cherokee: $22.99 (survey)Cheyenne: $22.99 (survey)Clark: $22.99 (survey)Clay: $22.99 (survey)Cloud: $22.99 (survey)Coffey: $22.99 (survey)Comanche: $22.99 (survey)Cowley: $22.99 (survey)Crawford: $22.99 (survey)Decatur: $22.99 (survey)Dickinson: $22.99 (survey)Doniphan: $61.99 (union)Douglas: $61.99 (union)Edwards: $22.99 (survey)Elk: $22.99 (survey)Ellis: $18.00 (survey)Ellsworth: $22.99 (survey)Finney: $22.60 (survey)Ford: $22.99 (survey)Franklin: $67.03 (union)Geary: $23.18 (survey)Gove: $22.99 (survey)Graham: $22.99 (survey)Grant: $22.99 (survey)Gray: $22.99 (survey)Greeley: $18.36 (survey)Greenwood: $22.99 (survey)Hamilton: $22.99 (survey)Harper: $22.99 (survey)Harvey: $19.55 (survey)Haskell: $22.99 (survey)Hodgeman: $22.99 (survey)Jackson: $29.26 (survey)Jefferson: $29.26 (survey)Jewell: $22.99 (survey)Johnson: $67.03 (union)Kearny: $22.60 (survey)Kingman: $22.99 (survey)Kiowa: $22.99 (survey)Labette: $22.99 (survey)Lane: $22.99 (survey)Leavenworth: $67.03 (union)Lincoln: $22.99 (survey)Linn: $67.03 (union)Logan: $22.99 (survey)Lyon: $21.73 (survey)McPherson: $22.99 (survey)Marion: $22.99 (survey)Marshall: $22.99 (survey)Meade: $22.99 (survey)Miami: $67.03 (union)Mitchell: $22.99 (survey)Montgomery: $22.99 (survey)Morris: $22.99 (survey)Morton: $22.99 (survey)Nemaha: $22.99 (survey)Neosho: $22.99 (survey)Ness: $22.99 (survey)Norton: $22.99 (survey)Osage: $29.26 (survey)Osborne: $22.99 (survey)Ottawa: $21.73 (survey)Pawnee: $22.99 (survey)Phillips: $22.99 (survey)Pottawatomie: $16.31 (survey)Pratt: $22.99 (survey)Rawlins: $22.99 (survey)Reno: $22.99 (survey)Republic: $22.99 (survey)Rice: $22.99 (survey)Riley: $16.31 (survey)Rooks: $22.99 (survey)Rush: $22.99 (survey)Russell: $22.99 (survey)Saline: $21.73 (survey)Scott: $22.99 (survey)Sedgwick: $19.55 (survey)Seward: $22.99 (survey)Shawnee: $29.98 (survey)Sheridan: $22.99 (survey)Sherman: $22.99 (survey)Smith: $22.99 (survey)Stafford: $22.99 (survey)Stanton: $22.99 (survey)Stevens: $22.99 (survey)Sumner: $19.55 (survey)Thomas: $22.99 (survey)Trego: $22.99 (survey)Wabaunsee: $29.26 (survey)Wallace: $22.99 (survey)Washington: $22.99 (survey)Wichita: $22.99 (survey)Wilson: $22.99 (survey)Woodson: $22.99 (survey)Wyandotte: $67.03 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$22.99survey 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)$0$20$40$60$80/hrJohnson (Kansas City): market median $29.72, prevailing (union) $67.03, gap +$37.31Johnson (Kansas City)+$37.31Douglas (Lawrence): market median $28.75, prevailing (union) $61.99, gap +$33.24Douglas (Lawrence)+$33.24Doniphan (St. Joseph): market median $28.92, prevailing (union) $61.99, gap +$33.07Doniphan (St. Joseph)+$33.07Shawnee (Topeka): market median $24.62, prevailing (survey) $29.98, gap +$5.36Shawnee (Topeka)+$5.36Cherokee (Joplin): market median $23.34, prevailing (survey) $22.99, gap −$0.35Cherokee (Joplin)−$0.35Geary (Manhattan): market median $24.81, prevailing (survey) $23.18, gap −$1.63Geary (Manhattan)−$1.63Butler (Wichita): market median $24.49, prevailing (survey) $19.55, gap −$4.94Butler (Wichita)−$4.94
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Kansas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
FranklinUnion CARP0315-004 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03KS20260060
JohnsonUnion CARP0315-004 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03KS20260052
LeavenworthUnion CARP0315-004 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03KS20260053
LinnUnion CARP0315-004 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03KS20260054
MiamiUnion CARP0315-004 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03KS20260060
WyandotteUnion CARP0315-004 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03KS20260060
DoniphanUnion CARP0315-002 2024-05-01$39.59$22.40$61.99KS20260047
DouglasUnion CARP0315-002 2024-05-01$39.59$22.40$61.99KS20260048
ShawneeSurvey SUKS2015-027 2015-07-08$22.94$7.04$29.98KS20260058
JacksonSurvey SUKS2015-030 2015-07-08$22.72$6.54$29.26KS20260061
JeffersonSurvey SUKS2015-020 2015-07-08$22.72$6.54$29.26KS20260051
OsageSurvey SUKS2015-030 2015-07-08$22.72$6.54$29.26KS20260061
WabaunseeSurvey SUKS2015-030 2015-07-08$22.72$6.54$29.26KS20260061
GearySurvey SUKS2015-018 2015-07-08$18.00$5.18$23.18KS20260049
AllenSurvey SUKS2015-013 2015-07-08$19.04$3.95$22.99KS20260044

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

Is construction work growing in Kansas?

78.5kConstruction jobsKansas, 2026-09
+5.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k1990199520002005201020152020202578kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kansas (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kansas

More on Kansas

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Kansas?

The median carpenter in Kansas earned $27.39 an hour ($56,960 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $22.99–$32.08; the top 10% earn more than $42.35.

Where does Kansas rank for carpenter pay?

Kansas ranks 32nd of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $27.39 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Kansas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 8 counties, with a typical package of $67.03 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Kansas?

BLS counted 5,210 carpenters in Kansas in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Kansas?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Kansas went from 5,880 in 2015 to 5,210 in 2025, -11.4%, and -9.5% since 2019. Kansas's labor market agency projects +4.0% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 7,140 to 7,430 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Kansas?

Kansas projects about 550 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, Kansas 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: Kansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.