Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Minnesota

Median $31.22 an hour for 14,930 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$31.22/hrMedian hourly wageMinnesota, May data
$64,930/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.40 – $47.6610th to 90th percentilehourly range
14,930Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Minnesota: the full range

Wage percentiles, MinnesotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMinnesota: 10th $22.40 · 25th $26.56 · median $31.22 · 75th $40.58 · 90th $47.66Minnesota$31.22$22.40$47.66United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Minnesota vs United States, May 2025.

Minnesota ranks 8th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 10th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.66). 14,930 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.40 – $26.56$46,590 – $55,240roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$26.56 – $40.58$55,240 – $84,410the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$40.58 – $47.66$84,410 – $99,130the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Minnesota

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrMinneapolis: $35.61Minneapolis$35.61Rochester: $30.58Rochester$30.58Mankato: $29.40Mankato$29.40St. Cloud: $29.14St. Cloud$29.14Duluth: $29.10Duluth$29.10Fargo: $28.34Fargo$28.34La Crosse: $28.34La Crosse$28.34Grand Forks: $27.62Grand Forks$27.62Sioux Falls: $23.75Sioux Falls$23.75
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Minnesota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Minneapolis$24.00$35.61$33.98$48.4710,20014% above
Rochester$21.93$30.58$33.68$46.064602% below
Mankato$22.07$29.40$32.31$37.602306% below
St. Cloud$21.91$29.14$33.26$43.035707% below
Duluth$21.32$29.10$32.77$43.286207% below
Fargo$21.41$28.34$31.18$36.978809% below
La Crosse$22.08$28.34$30.87$40.194509% below
Grand Forks$21.31$27.62$31.86$36.6029012% below
Sioux Falls$18.80$23.75$26.21$32.471,64024% below

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

Carpenter wages in Minnesota over time

Minnesota, 1999-2025MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$31.22Minnesota$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Minnesota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMinnesota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.82$32.50$15.3515,180
2000$16.99$31.76$15.6916,440
2001$18.02$32.76$16.0917,930
2002$18.70$33.46$16.4418,550
2003$18.85$32.98$16.4718,150
2004$19.40$33.06$16.7820,560
2005$19.41$32.00$17.1122,460
2006$19.74$31.52$17.5722,070
2007$19.78$30.71$18.1118,920
2008$20.62$30.83$18.7217,810
2009$20.35$30.54$18.9814,380
2010$21.00$31.00$19.0012,200
2011$20.89$29.90$19.2412,180
2012$21.60$30.29$19.2012,320
2013$21.80$30.13$19.4713,250
2014$21.45$29.17$19.6313,060
2015$22.47$30.52$20.2413,770
2016$22.64$30.37$20.9614,600
2017$23.48$30.84$21.7116,220
2018$24.24$31.08$22.4017,110
2019$26.05$32.80$23.2418,330
2020$25.35$31.53$23.8116,890
2021$27.89$33.14$23.2017,130
2022$28.46$31.31$24.7117,190
2023$30.13$31.83$27.0916,240
2024$31.08$31.90$28.5115,190
2025$31.22$31.22$29.1214,930

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Minnesota changed by +2.3% over the last ten years of data and by -4.8% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Minnesota?

-18.5%Jobs since 201918,330 then, 14,930 in 2025
+8.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 20th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Minnesota has changed by -1.6%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -18.5%.

Carpenters in Minnesota vs United States, 1999 = 100MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages507510012515017520002005201020152020202598Minnesota87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Minnesota vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMinnesota jobsMinnesota indexUS index
199915,180100100
200016,440108111
200117,930118110
200218,550122111
200318,150120110
200420,560135114
200522,460148121
200622,070145128
200718,920125126
200817,810117117
200914,3809596
201012,2008080
201112,1808075
201212,3208174
201313,2508775
201413,0608680
201513,7709183
201614,6009688
201716,22010790
201817,11011393
201918,33012195
202016,89011191
202117,13011387
202217,19011390
202316,24010791
202415,19010090
202514,9309887

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 Minnesota

+4.2%Projected growth in Minnesota2024–2034, state agency
1,720Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
22,430Jobs in 202423,370 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Minnesota's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +4.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 22,430 to 23,370, with about 1,720 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 14,930 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Minnesota

On federally funded construction in Minnesota, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 87 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $67.12). The market median for the state is $31.22.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MNAitkin: $71.18 (survey)Anoka: $81.40 (survey)Becker: $45.78 (survey)Beltrami: $43.45 (survey)Benton: $54.86 (survey)Big Stone: $67.12 (survey)Blue Earth: $71.99 (survey)Brown: $67.12 (survey)Carlton: $73.03 (survey)Carver: $81.40 (survey)Cass: $63.80 (survey)Chippewa: $67.12 (survey)Chisago: $81.40 (survey)Clay: $63.80 (survey)Clearwater: $63.80 (survey)Cook: $73.03 (survey)Cottonwood: $60.38 (survey)Crow Wing: $63.80 (survey)Dakota: $81.40 (survey)Dodge: $74.21 (survey)Douglas: $67.12 (survey)Faribault: $71.99 (survey)Fillmore: $74.21 (survey)Freeborn: $71.99 (survey)Goodhue: $74.21 (survey)Grant: $67.12 (survey)Hennepin: $81.40 (survey)Houston: $74.21 (survey)Hubbard: $63.80 (survey)Isanti: $81.40 (survey)Itasca: $71.18 (survey)Jackson: $67.12 (survey)Kanabec: $59.30 (survey)Kandiyohi: $67.12 (survey)Kittson: $63.80 (survey)Koochiching: $71.18 (survey)Lac qui Parle: $67.12 (survey)Lake: $73.03 (survey)Lake of the Woods: $63.80 (survey)Le Sueur: $71.99 (survey)Lincoln: $67.12 (survey)Lyon: $67.12 (survey)McLeod: $71.99 (survey)Mahnomen: $63.80 (survey)Marshall: $63.80 (survey)Martin: $67.12 (survey)Meeker: $71.99 (survey)Mille Lacs: $71.99 (survey)Morrison: $71.99 (survey)Mower: $71.99 (survey)Murray: $67.12 (survey)Nicollet: $71.99 (survey)Nobles: $60.38 (survey)Norman: $63.80 (survey)Olmsted: $74.21 (survey)Otter Tail: $63.80 (survey)Pennington: $63.80 (survey)Pine: $81.40 (survey)Pipestone: $67.12 (survey)Polk: $63.80 (survey)Pope: $67.12 (survey)Ramsey: $81.40 (survey)Red Lake: $63.80 (survey)Redwood: $67.12 (survey)Renville: $67.12 (survey)Rice: $71.99 (survey)Rock: $67.12 (survey)Roseau: $41.97 (survey)St. Louis: $73.03 (survey)Scott: $81.40 (survey)Sherburne: $81.40 (survey)Sibley: $71.99 (survey)Stearns: $71.99 (survey)Steele: $71.99 (survey)Stevens: $67.12 (survey)Swift: $67.12 (survey)Todd: $67.12 (survey)Traverse: $67.12 (survey)Wabasha: $74.21 (survey)Wadena: $63.80 (survey)Waseca: $61.94 (survey)Washington: $81.40 (survey)Watonwan: $67.12 (survey)Wilkin: $63.80 (survey)Winona: $74.21 (survey)Wright: $81.40 (survey)Yellow Medicine: $37.36 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$63.80$67.12$71.99$74.21survey 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 (survey)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrHouston (La Crosse): market median $28.34, prevailing (survey) $74.21, gap +$45.87Houston (La Crosse)+$45.87Anoka (Minneapolis): market median $35.61, prevailing (survey) $81.40, gap +$45.79Anoka (Minneapolis)+$45.79Carlton (Duluth): market median $29.10, prevailing (survey) $73.03, gap +$43.93Carlton (Duluth)+$43.93Dodge (Rochester): market median $30.58, prevailing (survey) $74.21, gap +$43.63Dodge (Rochester)+$43.63Rock (Sioux Falls): market median $23.75, prevailing (survey) $67.12, gap +$43.37Rock (Sioux Falls)+$43.37Stearns (St. Cloud): market median $29.14, prevailing (survey) $71.99, gap +$42.85Stearns (St. Cloud)+$42.85Blue Earth (Mankato): market median $29.40, prevailing (survey) $71.99, gap +$42.59Blue Earth (Mankato)+$42.59Polk (Grand Forks): market median $27.62, prevailing (survey) $63.80, gap +$36.18Polk (Grand Forks)+$36.18Clay (Fargo): market median $28.34, prevailing (survey) $63.80, gap +$35.46Clay (Fargo)+$35.46
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Minnesota.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
Anokastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260028
Carverstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260036
Chisagostate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260039
Dakotastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260045
Hennepinstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260053
Isantistate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260056
Pinestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260084
Ramseystate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260088
Scottstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260095
Sherburnestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260096
Washingtonstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260108
Wrightstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$51.56$29.84$81.40MN20260112
Dodgestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$46.81$27.40$74.21MN20260046
Fillmorestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$46.81$27.40$74.21MN20260049
Goodhuestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$46.81$27.40$74.21MN20260051

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

Is construction work growing in Minnesota?

161.1kConstruction jobsMinnesota, 2026-09
+5.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025161kSep 2026
Construction employment in Minnesota (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Minnesota

More on Minnesota

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Minnesota?

The median carpenter in Minnesota earned $31.22 an hour ($64,930 a year) in May 2025, 7% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $26.56–$40.58; the top 10% earn more than $47.66.

Where does Minnesota rank for carpenter pay?

Minnesota ranks 8th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $31.22 an hour, and 10th after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.6, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Minnesota?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a carpenter classification for most Minnesota counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many carpenters work in Minnesota?

BLS counted 14,930 carpenters in Minnesota in May 2025, 5.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Minnesota?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Minnesota went from 13,770 in 2015 to 14,930 in 2025, +8.4%, and -18.5% since 2019. Minnesota's labor market agency projects +4.2% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 22,430 to 23,370 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Minnesota?

Minnesota projects about 1,720 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, Minnesota 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: Minnesota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.