Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Michigan

Median $29.66 an hour for 18,590 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.66/hrMedian hourly wageMichigan, May data
$61,680/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.42 – $39.3610th to 90th percentilehourly range
18,590Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Michigan: the full range

Wage percentiles, MichiganMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMichigan: 10th $21.42 · 25th $23.80 · median $29.66 · 75th $35.09 · 90th $39.36Michigan$29.66$21.42$39.36United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Michigan vs United States, May 2025.

Michigan ranks 19th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 16th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.83). 18,590 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.42 – $23.80$44,550 – $49,500roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.80 – $35.09$49,500 – $72,990the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$35.09 – $39.36$72,990 – $81,860the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Michigan

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrDetroit: $31.64Detroit$31.64Ann Arbor: $31.33Ann Arbor$31.33Lansing: $30.90Lansing$30.90Midland: $30.47Midland$30.47Saginaw: $29.92Saginaw$29.92Battle Creek: $29.88Battle Creek$29.88South Bend: $29.66South Bend$29.66Flint: $29.50Flint$29.50Kalamazoo: $29.36Kalamazoo$29.36Monroe: $28.73Monroe$28.73Traverse City: $28.47Traverse City$28.47Grand Rapids: $28.36Grand Rapids$28.36
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Detroit$22.86$31.64$31.55$39.807,6107% above
Ann Arbor$22.36$31.33$31.05$40.156406% above
Lansing$22.58$30.90$32.53$37.581,1204% above
Midland$18.01$30.47$33.16$37.232503% above
Saginaw$21.17$29.92$32.92$36.883201% above
Battle Creek$21.44$29.88$33.02$37.401301% above
South Bend$21.68$29.66$31.93$37.84500about the same as
Flint$22.06$29.50$31.72$37.413301% below
Kalamazoo$19.28$29.36$30.97$37.754101% below
Monroe$19.19$28.73$30.73$34.10903% below
Traverse City$21.01$28.47$30.48$34.004204% below
Grand Rapids$20.04$28.36$29.70$36.492,8404% below
Jackson$21.77$27.00$29.41$36.351309% below
Bay City$19.34$26.69$29.04$38.128010% below
Niles$20.45$26.26$28.42$36.1218011% below
Muskegon$20.20$23.47$25.37$31.0614021% below

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

Carpenter wages in Michigan over time

Michigan, 1999-2025MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.66Michigan$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Michigan vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMichigan $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.37$31.63$15.3526,200
2000$17.56$32.83$15.6932,080
2001$18.33$33.32$16.0930,840
2002$18.11$32.41$16.4431,190
2003$18.32$32.05$16.4731,950
2004$18.21$31.04$16.7829,850
2005$18.99$31.30$17.1129,820
2006$19.06$30.44$17.5724,420
2007$19.70$30.59$18.1122,050
2008$20.26$30.29$18.7218,370
2009$20.40$30.61$18.9815,490
2010$19.62$28.97$19.0012,230
2011$19.91$28.50$19.2411,860
2012$19.79$27.75$19.2012,330
2013$20.24$27.97$19.4713,240
2014$20.24$27.52$19.6315,420
2015$20.41$27.72$20.2416,700
2016$20.71$27.78$20.9618,160
2017$21.45$28.17$21.7119,400
2018$21.83$27.99$22.4020,240
2019$22.41$28.22$23.2420,480
2020$22.70$28.24$23.8117,300
2021$23.09$27.43$23.2016,000
2022$24.60$27.06$24.7118,510
2023$28.01$29.59$27.0921,400
2024$29.52$30.30$28.5121,550
2025$29.66$29.66$29.1218,590

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Michigan changed by +7.0% over the last ten years of data and by +5.1% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Michigan?

-9.2%Jobs since 201920,480 then, 18,590 in 2025
+11.3%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 31st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Michigan has changed by -29.0%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -9.2%.

Carpenters in Michigan vs United States, 1999 = 100MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages25507510012515020002005201020152020202587United States71Michigan
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Michigan vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMichigan jobsMichigan indexUS index
199926,200100100
200032,080122111
200130,840118110
200231,190119111
200331,950122110
200429,850114114
200529,820114121
200624,42093128
200722,05084126
200818,37070117
200915,4905996
201012,2304780
201111,8604575
201212,3304774
201313,2405075
201415,4205980
201516,7006483
201618,1606988
201719,4007490
201820,2407793
201920,4807895
202017,3006691
202116,0006187
202218,5107190
202321,4008291
202421,5508290
202518,5907187

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 Michigan

+1.1%Projected growth in Michigan2024–2034, state agency
1,990Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
27,380Jobs in 202427,670 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Michigan's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +1.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 27,380 to 27,670, with about 1,990 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 18,590 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Michigan

On federally funded construction in Michigan, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 82 of the 83 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $57.13 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $22.73). 1 of the 83 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Kent County at $22.73). The market median for the state is $29.66.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MIAlcona: $51.92 (union)Alger: $57.15 (union)Allegan: $52.65 (union)Alpena: $51.92 (union)Antrim: $51.92 (union)Arenac: $59.55 (union)Baraga: $57.15 (union)Barry: $53.00 (union)Bay: $59.55 (union)Benzie: $51.92 (union)Berrien: $49.71 (union)Branch: $49.71 (union)Calhoun: $49.71 (union)Cass: $49.71 (union)Charlevoix: $51.92 (union)Cheboygan: $51.92 (union)Chippewa: $57.15 (union)Clare: $59.55 (union)Clinton: $57.27 (union)Crawford: $51.92 (union)Delta: $57.15 (union)Dickinson: $57.15 (union)Eaton: $57.27 (union)Emmet: $51.92 (union)Genesee: $60.15 (union)Gladwin: $59.55 (union)Gogebic: $57.15 (union)Grand Traverse: $51.92 (union)Gratiot: $59.55 (union)Hillsdale: $49.71 (union)Houghton: $57.15 (union)Huron: $59.55 (union)Ingham: $57.27 (union)Ionia: $57.12 (union)Iosco: $59.55 (union)Iron: $57.15 (union)Isabella: $59.55 (union)Jackson: $48.79 (union)Kalamazoo: $49.71 (union)Kalkaska: $51.92 (union)Kent: $22.73 (survey)Keweenaw: $57.15 (union)Lake: $52.65 (union)Lapeer: $59.55 (union)Leelanau: $51.92 (union)Lenawee: $56.47 (union)Livingston: $57.87 (union)Luce: $57.15 (union)Mackinac: $57.15 (union)Macomb: $57.87 (union)Manistee: $51.92 (union)Marquette: $57.15 (union)Mason: $52.65 (union)Mecosta: $52.65 (union)Menominee: $57.15 (union)Midland: $59.55 (union)Missaukee: $51.92 (union)Monroe: $73.87 (union)Montcalm: $52.65 (union)Montmorency: $51.92 (union)Muskegon: $52.65 (union)Newaygo: $53.00 (union)Oakland: $57.87 (union)Oceana: $52.65 (union)Ogemaw: $59.55 (union)Ontonagon: $57.15 (union)Osceola: $52.65 (union)Oscoda: $51.92 (union)Otsego: $51.92 (union)Ottawa: $52.65 (union)Presque Isle: $51.92 (union)Roscommon: $51.92 (union)Saginaw: $59.55 (union)St. Clair: $57.87 (union)St. Joseph: $49.71 (union)Sanilac: $73.87 (union)Schoolcraft: $57.15 (union)Shiawassee: $60.15 (union)Tuscola: $59.55 (union)Van Buren: $49.71 (union)Washtenaw: $57.87 (union)Wayne: $57.87 (union)Wexford: $51.92 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$51.92$52.65$57.15$58.88survey 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)$0$20$40$60$80/hrMonroe (Monroe): market median $28.73, prevailing (union) $73.87, gap +$45.14Monroe (Monroe)+$45.14Bay (Bay City): market median $26.69, prevailing (union) $59.55, gap +$32.86Bay (Bay City)+$32.86Genesee (Flint): market median $29.50, prevailing (union) $60.15, gap +$30.65Genesee (Flint)+$30.65Saginaw (Saginaw): market median $29.92, prevailing (union) $59.55, gap +$29.63Saginaw (Saginaw)+$29.63Muskegon (Muskegon): market median $23.47, prevailing (union) $52.65, gap +$29.18Muskegon (Muskegon)+$29.18Midland (Midland): market median $30.47, prevailing (union) $59.55, gap +$29.08Midland (Midland)+$29.08Ionia (Grand Rapids): market median $28.36, prevailing (union) $57.12, gap +$28.76Ionia (Grand Rapids)+$28.76Lapeer (Detroit): market median $31.64, prevailing (union) $59.55, gap +$27.91Lapeer (Detroit)+$27.91Washtenaw (Ann Arbor): market median $31.33, prevailing (union) $57.87, gap +$26.54Washtenaw (Ann Arbor)+$26.54Clinton (Lansing): market median $30.90, prevailing (union) $57.27, gap +$26.37Clinton (Lansing)+$26.37Benzie (Traverse City): market median $28.47, prevailing (union) $51.92, gap +$23.45Benzie (Traverse City)+$23.45Berrien (Niles): market median $26.26, prevailing (union) $49.71, gap +$23.45Berrien (Niles)+$23.45Jackson (Jackson): market median $27.00, prevailing (union) $48.79, gap +$21.79Jackson (Jackson)+$21.79Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo): market median $29.36, prevailing (union) $49.71, gap +$20.35Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo)+$20.35Cass (South Bend): market median $29.66, prevailing (union) $49.71, gap +$20.05Cass (South Bend)+$20.05Calhoun (Battle Creek): market median $29.88, prevailing (union) $49.71, gap +$19.83Calhoun (Battle Creek)+$19.83
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Michigan.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
MonroeUnion CARP0687-004 2025-06-01$42.44$31.43$73.87MI20260092
SanilacUnion CARP0687-010 2025-06-01$42.44$31.43$73.87MI20260149
GeneseeUnion CARP0706-001 2025-06-01$36.46$23.69$60.15MI20260083
ShiawasseeUnion CARP0706-024 2025-06-01$36.46$23.69$60.15MI20260151
ArenacUnion CARP0706-008 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260107
BayUnion CARP0706-002 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260077
ClareUnion CARP0706-008 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260114
GladwinUnion CARP0706-008 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260119
GratiotUnion CARP0706-008 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260122
HuronUnion CARP0706-019 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260125
IoscoUnion CARP0706-020 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260126
IsabellaUnion CARP0706-021 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260127
LapeerUnion CARP0706-006 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260089
MidlandUnion CARP0706-022 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260138
OgemawUnion CARP0706-020 2025-06-01$35.86$23.69$59.55MI20260143

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

Is construction work growing in Michigan?

209.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-09
-1.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025209kSep 2026
Construction employment in Michigan (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Michigan

More on Michigan

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Michigan?

The median carpenter in Michigan earned $29.66 an hour ($61,680 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $23.80–$35.09; the top 10% earn more than $39.36.

Where does Michigan rank for carpenter pay?

Michigan ranks 19th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $29.66 an hour, and 16th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Michigan?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 82 counties, with a typical package of $57.13 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Michigan?

BLS counted 18,590 carpenters in Michigan in May 2025, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.98; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Michigan?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Michigan went from 16,700 in 2015 to 18,590 in 2025, +11.3%, and -9.2% since 2019. Michigan's labor market agency projects +1.1% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 27,380 to 27,670 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Michigan?

Michigan projects about 1,990 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, Michigan 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: Michigan labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.