Carpenter salary in Maine
Median $29.88 an hour for 5,170 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Carpenter pay in Maine: the full range
Maine ranks 17th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 17th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.80). 5,170 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $22.66 – $25.46 | $47,130 – $52,960 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $25.46 – $35.00 | $52,960 – $72,800 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $35.00 – $37.62 | $72,800 – $78,240 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in Maine
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $24.27 | $30.91 | $30.33 | $37.99 | 2,230 | 3% above |
| Lewiston | $21.89 | $29.30 | $30.94 | $35.85 | 280 | 2% below |
| Bangor | $18.75 | $27.45 | $28.45 | $34.93 | 430 | 8% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Carpenter wages in Maine over time
Table
| Year | Maine $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.69 | $22.59 | $15.35 | 5,260 |
| 2000 | $14.40 | $26.92 | $15.69 | 5,800 |
| 2001 | $12.66 | $23.01 | $16.09 | 5,360 |
| 2002 | $13.32 | $23.84 | $16.44 | 5,550 |
| 2003 | $14.07 | $24.62 | $16.47 | 5,830 |
| 2004 | $13.59 | $23.16 | $16.78 | 5,740 |
| 2005 | $14.99 | $24.71 | $17.11 | 5,510 |
| 2006 | $15.18 | $24.24 | $17.57 | 6,120 |
| 2007 | $15.73 | $24.42 | $18.11 | 6,150 |
| 2008 | $16.30 | $24.37 | $18.72 | 6,010 |
| 2009 | $16.37 | $24.57 | $18.98 | 5,010 |
| 2010 | $16.45 | $24.29 | $19.00 | 4,310 |
| 2011 | $16.93 | $24.23 | $19.24 | 4,050 |
| 2012 | $17.60 | $24.68 | $19.20 | 3,710 |
| 2013 | $17.86 | $24.68 | $19.47 | 3,530 |
| 2014 | $18.05 | $24.55 | $19.63 | 3,810 |
| 2015 | $18.22 | $24.75 | $20.24 | 3,900 |
| 2016 | $18.52 | $24.84 | $20.96 | 4,170 |
| 2017 | $19.22 | $25.24 | $21.71 | 4,520 |
| 2018 | $19.92 | $25.54 | $22.40 | 4,910 |
| 2019 | $21.05 | $26.51 | $23.24 | 5,130 |
| 2020 | $21.81 | $27.13 | $23.81 | 4,980 |
| 2021 | $22.82 | $27.11 | $23.20 | 4,940 |
| 2022 | $23.82 | $26.20 | $24.71 | 5,070 |
| 2023 | $26.41 | $27.90 | $27.09 | 5,080 |
| 2024 | $28.46 | $29.21 | $28.51 | 4,830 |
| 2025 | $29.88 | $29.88 | $29.12 | 5,170 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Maine changed by +20.7% over the last ten years of data and by +12.7% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs in Maine?
Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Maine has changed by -1.7%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +0.8%.
Table
| Year | Maine jobs | Maine index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,260 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 5,800 | 110 | 111 |
| 2001 | 5,360 | 102 | 110 |
| 2002 | 5,550 | 106 | 111 |
| 2003 | 5,830 | 111 | 110 |
| 2004 | 5,740 | 109 | 114 |
| 2005 | 5,510 | 105 | 121 |
| 2006 | 6,120 | 116 | 128 |
| 2007 | 6,150 | 117 | 126 |
| 2008 | 6,010 | 114 | 117 |
| 2009 | 5,010 | 95 | 96 |
| 2010 | 4,310 | 82 | 80 |
| 2011 | 4,050 | 77 | 75 |
| 2012 | 3,710 | 70 | 74 |
| 2013 | 3,530 | 67 | 75 |
| 2014 | 3,810 | 72 | 80 |
| 2015 | 3,900 | 74 | 83 |
| 2016 | 4,170 | 79 | 88 |
| 2017 | 4,520 | 86 | 90 |
| 2018 | 4,910 | 93 | 93 |
| 2019 | 5,130 | 98 | 95 |
| 2020 | 4,980 | 95 | 91 |
| 2021 | 4,940 | 94 | 87 |
| 2022 | 5,070 | 96 | 90 |
| 2023 | 5,080 | 97 | 91 |
| 2024 | 4,830 | 92 | 90 |
| 2025 | 5,170 | 98 | 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 Maine
Maine's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by -1.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,290 to 7,210, with about 510 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,170 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Maine labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Maine
On federally funded construction in Maine, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 16 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $50.52 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.69). 11 of the 16 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Aroostook County at $21.67). The market median for the state is $29.88.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin | Union CARP0349-002 2025-09-01 | $30.56 | $19.96 | $50.52 | ME20260004 |
| Cumberland | Union CARP0349-002 2025-09-01 | $30.56 | $19.96 | $50.52 | ME20260050 |
| Penobscot | Union CARP0349-002 2025-09-01 | $30.56 | $19.96 | $50.52 | ME20260051 |
| Sagadahoc | Union CARP0349-002 2025-09-01 | $30.56 | $19.96 | $50.52 | ME20260052 |
| York | Union CARP0349-002 2025-09-01 | $30.56 | $19.96 | $50.52 | ME20260053 |
| Kennebec | Survey SUME2014-018 2017-01-31 | $19.42 | $11.52 | $30.94 | ME20260009 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $19.56 | $9.13 | $28.69 | ME20260014 |
| Oxford | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $19.56 | $9.13 | $28.69 | ME20260014 |
| Waldo | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $19.56 | $9.13 | $28.69 | ME20260014 |
| Washington | Survey SUME2014-022 2017-01-31 | $20.14 | $8.23 | $28.37 | ME20260013 |
| Somerset | Survey SUME2014-021 2017-01-31 | $19.56 | $7.13 | $26.69 | ME20260012 |
| Franklin | Survey SUME2014-016 2017-01-31 | $19.75 | $5.10 | $24.85 | ME20260007 |
| Piscataquis | Survey SUME2014-020 2017-01-31 | $17.84 | $5.73 | $23.57 | ME20260011 |
| Knox | Survey SUME2014-019 2017-01-31 | $19.77 | $3.38 | $23.15 | ME20260010 |
| Aroostook | Survey SUME2014-015 2017-01-31 | $17.54 | $4.13 | $21.67 | ME20260006 |
| Hancock | Survey SUME2014-017 2017-01-31 | $15.22 | $2.46 | $17.68 | ME20260008 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Maine prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Maine?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Maine
More on Maine
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in Maine?
The median carpenter in Maine earned $29.88 an hour ($62,160 a year) in May 2025, 3% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $25.46–$35.00; the top 10% earn more than $37.62.
Where does Maine rank for carpenter pay?
Maine ranks 17th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $29.88 an hour, and 17th after adjusting for Maine's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.0, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in Maine?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 5 counties, with a typical package of $50.52 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many carpenters work in Maine?
BLS counted 5,170 carpenters in Maine in May 2025, 8.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.87; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is carpenter work growing in Maine?
The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Maine went from 3,900 in 2015 to 5,170 in 2025, +32.6%, and +0.8% since 2019. Maine's labor market agency projects -1.1% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 7,290 to 7,210 jobs.
How many carpenter openings a year are there in Maine?
Maine projects about 510 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, Maine 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: Maine labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.