Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Minnesota

Median $31.22 an hour for 14,930 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$22.40 – $26.56$46,590 – $55,240roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$26.56 – $40.58$55,240 – $84,410the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$40.58 – $47.66$84,410 – $99,130the 75th–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 $/hr90thJobsvs state
Minneapolis$24.00$35.61$48.4710,20014% above
Rochester$21.93$30.58$46.064602% below
Mankato$22.07$29.40$37.602306% below
St. Cloud$21.91$29.14$43.035707% below
Duluth$21.32$29.10$43.286207% below
Fargo$21.41$28.34$36.978809% below
La Crosse$22.08$28.34$40.194509% below
Grand Forks$21.31$27.62$36.6029012% below
Sioux Falls$18.80$23.75$32.471,64024% below

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.

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 2026-09-28. 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?

164.2kConstruction jobsMinnesota, 2026-08
+4.9%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025164kAug 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

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).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Minnesota and metro areas, SOC 47-2031.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.