Carpenter salary in Massachusetts
Median $36.16 an hour for 18,540 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Carpenter pay in Massachusetts: the full range
Massachusetts ranks 4th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 4th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.18). 18,540 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $23.19 – $29.21 | $48,230 – $60,770 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.21 – $46.88 | $60,770 – $97,520 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $46.88 – $59.08 | $97,520 – $122,880 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $23.78 | $36.31 | $37.78 | $48.32 | 660 | about the same as |
| Boston | $23.47 | $36.16 | $33.39 | $59.71 | 12,720 | about the same as |
| Worcester | $22.33 | $35.10 | $34.24 | $51.35 | 1,590 | 3% below |
| Barnstable | $22.41 | $33.93 | $34.48 | $47.27 | 1,280 | 6% below |
| Amherst | $23.06 | $32.13 | $32.07 | $51.15 | 350 | 11% below |
| Pittsfield | $22.37 | $30.31 | $31.87 | $46.19 | 430 | 16% below |
| Providence | $22.84 | $29.76 | $29.23 | $48.42 | 4,140 | 18% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Carpenter wages in Massachusetts over time
Table
| Year | Massachusetts $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $19.27 | $37.24 | $15.35 | 14,700 |
| 2000 | $19.22 | $35.93 | $15.69 | 19,950 |
| 2001 | $20.54 | $37.34 | $16.09 | 18,420 |
| 2002 | $20.95 | $37.49 | $16.44 | 19,510 |
| 2003 | $21.06 | $36.85 | $16.47 | 19,960 |
| 2004 | $21.55 | $36.73 | $16.78 | 18,420 |
| 2005 | $21.86 | $36.04 | $17.11 | 21,010 |
| 2006 | $22.76 | $36.35 | $17.57 | 21,350 |
| 2007 | $23.64 | $36.71 | $18.11 | 20,780 |
| 2008 | $24.62 | $36.81 | $18.72 | 18,420 |
| 2009 | $24.31 | $36.48 | $18.98 | 15,910 |
| 2010 | $24.52 | $36.20 | $19.00 | 13,410 |
| 2011 | $25.20 | $36.07 | $19.24 | 13,390 |
| 2012 | $25.78 | $36.15 | $19.20 | 14,150 |
| 2013 | $26.02 | $35.96 | $19.47 | 14,640 |
| 2014 | $26.29 | $35.75 | $19.63 | 15,550 |
| 2015 | $26.84 | $36.46 | $20.24 | 15,900 |
| 2016 | $26.81 | $35.96 | $20.96 | 17,440 |
| 2017 | $27.34 | $35.91 | $21.71 | 18,220 |
| 2018 | $27.51 | $35.27 | $22.40 | 18,300 |
| 2019 | $28.13 | $35.42 | $23.24 | 17,820 |
| 2020 | $28.44 | $35.38 | $23.81 | 15,900 |
| 2021 | $29.34 | $34.86 | $23.20 | 19,040 |
| 2022 | $30.07 | $33.08 | $24.71 | 18,490 |
| 2023 | $31.86 | $33.66 | $27.09 | 16,640 |
| 2024 | $34.19 | $35.09 | $28.51 | 19,100 |
| 2025 | $36.16 | $36.16 | $29.12 | 18,540 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Massachusetts changed by -0.8% over the last ten years of data and by +2.1% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs in Massachusetts?
Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Massachusetts has changed by +26.1%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +4.0%.
Table
| Year | Massachusetts jobs | Massachusetts index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 14,700 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 19,950 | 136 | 111 |
| 2001 | 18,420 | 125 | 110 |
| 2002 | 19,510 | 133 | 111 |
| 2003 | 19,960 | 136 | 110 |
| 2004 | 18,420 | 125 | 114 |
| 2005 | 21,010 | 143 | 121 |
| 2006 | 21,350 | 145 | 128 |
| 2007 | 20,780 | 141 | 126 |
| 2008 | 18,420 | 125 | 117 |
| 2009 | 15,910 | 108 | 96 |
| 2010 | 13,410 | 91 | 80 |
| 2011 | 13,390 | 91 | 75 |
| 2012 | 14,150 | 96 | 74 |
| 2013 | 14,640 | 100 | 75 |
| 2014 | 15,550 | 106 | 80 |
| 2015 | 15,900 | 108 | 83 |
| 2016 | 17,440 | 119 | 88 |
| 2017 | 18,220 | 124 | 90 |
| 2018 | 18,300 | 124 | 93 |
| 2019 | 17,820 | 121 | 95 |
| 2020 | 15,900 | 108 | 91 |
| 2021 | 19,040 | 130 | 87 |
| 2022 | 18,490 | 126 | 90 |
| 2023 | 16,640 | 113 | 91 |
| 2024 | 19,100 | 130 | 90 |
| 2025 | 18,540 | 126 | 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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +6.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 25,670 to 27,290, with about 2,050 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 18,540 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Massachusetts
On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 14 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $81.55 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $36.16.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Bristol | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Dukes | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Essex | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Middlesex | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Nantucket | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Norfolk | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Plymouth | Union CARP0346-002 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260012 |
| Suffolk | Union CARP0346-003 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260001 |
| Worcester | Union CARP0336-001 2025-09-01 | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | MA20260013 |
| Berkshire | Union CARP0336-013 2025-09-01 | $43.33 | $27.82 | $71.15 | MA20260003 |
| Franklin | Union CARP0336-013 2025-09-01 | $43.33 | $27.82 | $71.15 | MA20260003 |
| Hampden | Union CARP0336-013 2025-09-01 | $43.33 | $27.82 | $71.15 | MA20260003 |
| Hampshire | Union CARP0336-013 2025-09-01 | $43.33 | $27.82 | $71.15 | MA20260003 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Massachusetts prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Massachusetts
More on Massachusetts
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in Massachusetts?
The median carpenter in Massachusetts earned $36.16 an hour ($75,200 a year) in May 2025, 24% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $29.21–$46.88; the top 10% earn more than $59.08.
Where does Massachusetts rank for carpenter pay?
Massachusetts ranks 4th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $36.16 an hour, and 4th after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in Massachusetts?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 14 counties, with a typical package of $81.55 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many carpenters work in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 18,540 carpenters in Massachusetts in May 2025, 5.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.18; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is carpenter work growing in Massachusetts?
The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Massachusetts went from 15,900 in 2015 to 18,540 in 2025, +16.6%, and +4.0% since 2019. Massachusetts's labor market agency projects +6.3% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 25,670 to 27,290 jobs.
How many carpenter openings a year are there in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts projects about 2,050 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, Massachusetts 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: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.