Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Kentucky

Median $25.33 an hour for 8,540 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$25.33/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$52,680/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.67 – $35.0810th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,540Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrKentucky: 10th $17.67 · 25th $22.09 · median $25.33 · 75th $29.45 · 90th $35.08Kentucky$25.33$17.67$35.08United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 35th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.08). 8,540 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$17.67 – $22.09$36,760 – $45,940roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.09 – $29.45$45,940 – $61,260the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.45 – $35.08$61,260 – $72,960the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrCincinnati: $28.90Cincinnati$28.90Louisville: $27.17Louisville$27.17Bowling Green: $25.33Bowling Green$25.33Owensboro: $25.17Owensboro$25.17Lexington: $25.01Lexington$25.01Huntington: $25.00Huntington$25.00Paducah: $24.86Paducah$24.86Clarksville: $23.60Clarksville$23.60Elizabethtown: $23.59Elizabethtown$23.59
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$21.24$28.90$30.29$38.344,61014% above
Louisville$18.74$27.17$29.18$36.232,9907% above
Bowling Green$18.08$25.33$28.08$29.58480about the same as
Owensboro$16.99$25.17$28.41$36.062101% below
Lexington$18.11$25.01$26.92$36.221,2001% below
Huntington$17.24$25.00$28.28$33.907801% below
Paducah$17.47$24.86$28.87$35.253102% below
Clarksville$17.44$23.60$25.96$31.282907% below
Elizabethtown$17.07$23.59$26.04$33.291907% below

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

Carpenter wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$25.33Kentucky
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.60$24.35$15.3510,670
2000$13.96$26.10$15.699,380
2001$14.29$25.98$16.099,160
2002$14.95$26.75$16.448,920
2003$14.98$26.21$16.478,560
2004$15.35$26.16$16.788,630
2005$14.86$24.50$17.119,050
2006$15.08$24.08$17.578,900
2007$15.23$23.65$18.119,090
2008$15.98$23.89$18.729,050
2009$16.36$24.55$18.988,240
2010$16.39$24.20$19.008,260
2011$16.57$23.72$19.246,900
2012$16.36$22.94$19.206,480
2013$17.38$24.02$19.476,350
2014$17.83$24.25$19.636,800
2015$18.34$24.91$20.246,740
2016$18.53$24.86$20.966,360
2017$19.06$25.03$21.717,070
2018$20.70$26.54$22.407,510
2019$20.85$26.26$23.247,610
2020$21.32$26.52$23.817,350
2021$22.42$26.64$23.207,340
2022$23.25$25.58$24.717,680
2023$24.08$25.44$27.097,820
2024$24.45$25.09$28.518,200
2025$25.33$25.33$29.128,540

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Kentucky changed by +1.7% over the last ten years of data and by -3.5% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Kentucky?

+12.2%Jobs since 20197,610 then, 8,540 in 2025
+26.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.3Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 30th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Kentucky has changed by -20.0%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +12.2%.

Carpenters in Kentucky vs United States, 1999 = 100KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages507510012515020002005201020152020202587United States80Kentucky
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Kentucky vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearKentucky jobsKentucky indexUS index
199910,670100100
20009,38088111
20019,16086110
20028,92084111
20038,56080110
20048,63081114
20059,05085121
20068,90083128
20079,09085126
20089,05085117
20098,2407796
20108,2607780
20116,9006575
20126,4806174
20136,3506075
20146,8006480
20156,7406383
20166,3606088
20177,0706690
20187,5107093
20197,6107195
20207,3506991
20217,3406987
20227,6807290
20237,8207391
20248,2007790
20258,5408087

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 Kentucky

+5.3%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
880Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
11,230Jobs in 202411,820 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +5.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 11,230 to 11,820, with about 880 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,540 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 31 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $50.34 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $32.98). 89 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Allen County at $18.67). The market median for the state is $25.33.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $50.34 (union)Allen: $18.67 (survey)Anderson: $32.78 (survey)Ballard: $32.98 (survey)Barren: $50.34 (union)Bath: $32.78 (survey)Bell: $37.32 (survey)Boone: $33.66 (survey)Bourbon: $29.39 (survey)Boyd: $63.61 (union)Boyle: $32.78 (survey)Bracken: $33.68 (survey)Breathitt: $37.32 (survey)Breckinridge: $32.98 (survey)Bullitt: $53.14 (union)Butler: $18.67 (survey)Caldwell: $32.98 (survey)Calloway: $32.98 (survey)Campbell: $51.50 (union)Carlisle: $32.98 (survey)Carroll: $32.78 (survey)Carter: $37.32 (survey)Casey: $50.34 (union)Christian: $28.88 (survey)Clark: $29.39 (survey)Clay: $37.32 (survey)Clinton: $50.34 (union)Crittenden: $32.98 (survey)Cumberland: $50.34 (union)Daviess: $33.82 (survey)Edmonson: $18.67 (survey)Elliott: $37.32 (survey)Estill: $32.78 (survey)Fayette: $28.92 (survey)Fleming: $32.78 (survey)Floyd: $37.32 (survey)Franklin: $32.78 (survey)Fulton: $32.98 (survey)Gallatin: $33.68 (survey)Garrard: $32.78 (survey)Grant: $33.68 (survey)Graves: $32.98 (survey)Grayson: $32.98 (survey)Green: $50.34 (union)Greenup: $63.61 (union)Hancock: $33.82 (survey)Hardin: $31.31 (survey)Harlan: $37.32 (survey)Harrison: $32.78 (survey)Hart: $50.34 (union)Henderson: $24.50 (survey)Henry: $53.14 (union)Hickman: $32.98 (survey)Hopkins: $32.98 (survey)Jackson: $37.32 (survey)Jefferson: $53.14 (union)Jessamine: $29.39 (survey)Johnson: $37.32 (survey)Kenton: $36.22 (survey)Knott: $37.32 (survey)Knox: $50.34 (union)Larue: $31.31 (survey)Laurel: $50.34 (union)Lawrence: $37.32 (survey)Lee: $37.32 (survey)Leslie: $37.32 (survey)Letcher: $37.32 (survey)Lewis: $32.78 (survey)Lincoln: $32.78 (survey)Livingston: $32.98 (survey)Logan: $50.34 (union)Lyon: $32.98 (survey)McCracken: $32.98 (survey)McCreary: $50.34 (union)McLean: $33.82 (survey)Madison: $32.78 (survey)Magoffin: $37.32 (survey)Marion: $50.34 (union)Marshall: $32.98 (survey)Martin: $37.32 (survey)Mason: $32.78 (survey)Meade: $31.31 (survey)Menifee: $32.78 (survey)Mercer: $32.78 (survey)Metcalfe: $50.34 (union)Monroe: $50.34 (union)Montgomery: $32.78 (survey)Morgan: $37.32 (survey)Muhlenberg: $32.98 (survey)Nelson: $53.14 (union)Nicholas: $32.78 (survey)Ohio: $32.98 (survey)Oldham: $53.14 (union)Owen: $32.78 (survey)Owsley: $37.32 (survey)Pendleton: $33.68 (survey)Perry: $37.32 (survey)Pike: $37.32 (survey)Powell: $32.78 (survey)Pulaski: $50.34 (union)Robertson: $32.78 (survey)Rockcastle: $32.78 (survey)Rowan: $32.78 (survey)Russell: $50.34 (union)Scott: $29.39 (survey)Shelby: $53.14 (union)Simpson: $50.34 (union)Spencer: $53.14 (union)Taylor: $50.34 (union)Todd: $32.98 (survey)Trigg: $30.89 (survey)Trimble: $53.14 (union)Union: $32.98 (survey)Warren: $18.67 (survey)Washington: $32.78 (survey)Wayne: $50.34 (union)Webster: $24.50 (survey)Whitley: $50.34 (union)Wolfe: $37.32 (survey)Woodford: $29.39 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$32.78$32.98$37.32$50.34survey 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/hrBoyd (Huntington): market median $25.00, prevailing (union) $63.61, gap +$38.61Boyd (Huntington)+$38.61Bullitt (Louisville): market median $27.17, prevailing (union) $53.14, gap +$25.97Bullitt (Louisville)+$25.97Campbell (Cincinnati): market median $28.90, prevailing (union) $51.50, gap +$22.60Campbell (Cincinnati)+$22.60Daviess (Owensboro): market median $25.17, prevailing (survey) $33.82, gap +$8.65Daviess (Owensboro)+$8.65Ballard (Paducah): market median $24.86, prevailing (survey) $32.98, gap +$8.12Ballard (Paducah)+$8.12Hardin (Elizabethtown): market median $23.59, prevailing (survey) $31.31, gap +$7.72Hardin (Elizabethtown)+$7.72Trigg (Clarksville): market median $23.60, prevailing (survey) $30.89, gap +$7.29Trigg (Clarksville)+$7.29Bourbon (Lexington): market median $25.01, prevailing (survey) $29.39, gap +$4.38Bourbon (Lexington)+$4.38Allen (Bowling Green): market median $25.33, prevailing (survey) $18.67, gap −$6.66Allen (Bowling Green)−$6.66
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BoydUnion CARP0472-005 2025-06-01$37.04$26.57$63.61KY20260101
GreenupUnion CARP0472-005 2025-06-01$37.04$26.57$63.61KY20260101
BullittUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260087
HenryUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260104
JeffersonUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260093
NelsonUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260096
OldhamUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260104
ShelbyUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260106
SpencerUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260106
TrimbleUnion CARP0175-001 2025-06-01$30.80$22.34$53.14KY20260106
CampbellUnion CARP0002-020 2024-06-01$32.26$19.24$51.50KY20260088
AdairUnion CARP1650-004 2024-06-01$32.25$18.09$50.34KY20260037
BarrenUnion CARP1650-010 2024-06-01$32.25$18.09$50.34KY20260042
CaseyUnion CARP1650-010 2024-06-01$32.25$18.09$50.34KY20260042
ClintonUnion CARP1650-010 2024-06-01$32.25$18.09$50.34KY20260042

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

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Kentucky?

The median carpenter in Kentucky earned $25.33 an hour ($52,680 a year) in May 2025, 13% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $22.09–$29.45; the top 10% earn more than $35.08.

Where does Kentucky rank for carpenter pay?

Kentucky ranks 35th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $25.33 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 31 counties, with a typical package of $50.34 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 8,540 carpenters in Kentucky in May 2025, 4.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.99; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Kentucky?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Kentucky went from 6,740 in 2015 to 8,540 in 2025, +26.7%, and +12.2% since 2019. Kentucky's labor market agency projects +5.3% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 11,230 to 11,820 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Kentucky?

Kentucky projects about 880 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, Kentucky 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: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.