Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Missouri

Median $29.25 an hour for 14,410 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$29.25/hrMedian hourly wageMissouri, May data
$60,840/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.60 – $46.3010th to 90th percentilehourly range
14,410Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Carpenter pay in Missouri: the full range

Wage percentiles, MissouriMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMissouri: 10th $18.60 · 25th $22.85 · median $29.25 · 75th $38.74 · 90th $46.30Missouri$29.25$18.60$46.30United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Missouri vs United States, May 2025.

Missouri ranks 22nd of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 9th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.21). 14,410 carpenters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.60 – $22.85$38,700 – $47,520roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$22.85 – $38.74$47,520 – $80,570the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$38.74 – $46.30$80,570 – $96,310the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Missouri

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrSt. Louis: $34.13St. Louis$34.13Cape Girardeau: $30.64Cape Girardeau$30.64Kansas City: $29.72Kansas City$29.72St. Joseph: $28.92St. Joseph$28.92Jefferson City: $27.42Jefferson City$27.42Columbia: $27.00Columbia$27.00Springfield: $25.00Springfield$25.00Joplin: $23.34Joplin$23.34
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Missouri, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
St. Louis$21.64$34.13$47.867,21017% above
Cape Girardeau$20.75$30.64$43.741805% above
Kansas City$21.61$29.72$46.354,5402% above
St. Joseph$18.21$28.92$42.962201% below
Jefferson City$18.72$27.42$42.004306% below
Columbia$17.37$27.00$42.275108% below
Springfield$17.47$25.00$40.8992015% below
Joplin$15.39$23.34$40.8130020% below

Carpenter wages in Missouri over time

Missouri, 1999-2025MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.25Missouri$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Missouri vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMissouri $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.41$31.71$15.3521,080
2000$16.67$31.17$15.6921,390
2001$17.36$31.56$16.0921,900
2002$18.86$33.75$16.4421,890
2003$19.26$33.70$16.4722,170
2004$19.68$33.54$16.7823,540
2005$19.16$31.58$17.1127,070
2006$19.18$30.63$17.5726,810
2007$20.25$31.44$18.1125,200
2008$20.17$30.16$18.7222,450
2009$19.39$29.10$18.9817,090
2010$19.47$28.75$19.0014,360
2011$20.85$29.84$19.2413,980
2012$21.58$30.26$19.2013,410
2013$23.40$32.34$19.4714,190
2014$23.57$32.05$19.6313,040
2015$24.38$33.12$20.2412,780
2016$25.54$34.26$20.9612,860
2017$26.05$34.21$21.7113,540
2018$26.14$33.51$22.4014,090
2019$26.88$33.85$23.2415,090
2020$27.19$33.82$23.8115,300
2021$24.84$29.51$23.2014,190
2022$26.79$29.47$24.7117,010
2023$28.38$29.99$27.0915,290
2024$29.40$30.17$28.5116,390
2025$29.25$29.25$29.1214,410

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Missouri changed by -11.7% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Missouri

On federally funded construction in Missouri, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 109 of the 115 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $62.18 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $28.27). 3 of the 115 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Carroll County at $31.53). The market median for the state is $29.25.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MOAdair: $53.76 (union)Andrew: $67.03 (union)Atchison: $53.76 (union)Audrain: $53.76 (union)Barry: $53.76 (union)Barton: $53.76 (union)Bates: $67.03 (union)Benton: $53.76 (union)Bollinger: $54.99 (union)Boone: $53.76 (union)Buchanan: $67.03 (union)Butler: $54.44 (union)Caldwell: $67.03 (union)Callaway: $53.76 (union)Camden: $53.76 (union)Cape Girardeau: $54.99 (union)Carroll: $31.53 (survey)Carter: $61.93 (union)Cass: $67.03 (union)Cedar: $51.00 (union)Chariton: $53.76 (union)Christian: $51.00 (union)Clark: $64.46 (union)Clay: $67.03 (union)Clinton: $67.03 (union)Cole: $53.76 (union)Cooper: $53.76 (union)Crawford: $61.93 (union)Dade: $64.46 (union)Dallas: $51.00 (union)Daviess: $64.46 (union)DeKalb: $67.03 (union)Dent: $66.04 (union)Douglas: $64.46 (union)Dunklin: $61.93 (union)Franklin: $62.18 (union)Gasconade: $66.04 (union)Gentry: $64.46 (union)Greene: $51.00 (union)Grundy: $64.46 (union)Harrison: $64.46 (union)Henry: $64.46 (union)Hickory: $64.46 (union)Holt: $64.46 (union)Howard: $53.76 (union)Howell: $61.93 (union)Iron: $61.93 (union)Jackson: $67.03 (union)Jasper: $28.27 (survey)Jefferson: $62.18 (union)Johnson: $30.75 (survey)Knox: $64.46 (union)Laclede: $64.46 (union)Lafayette: $67.03 (union)Lawrence: $26.07 (survey)Lewis: $64.46 (union)Lincoln: $62.18 (union)Linn: $64.46 (union)Livingston: $64.46 (union)McDonald: $28.27 (survey)Macon: $64.46 (union)Madison: $61.93 (union)Maries: $66.04 (union)Marion: $64.46 (union)Mercer: $64.46 (union)Miller: $66.04 (union)Mississippi: $54.44 (union)Moniteau: $53.76 (union)Monroe: $64.46 (union)Montgomery: $66.04 (union)Morgan: $66.04 (union)New Madrid: $54.44 (union)Newton: $28.27 (survey)Nodaway: $64.46 (union)Oregon: $61.93 (union)Osage: $53.76 (union)Ozark: $64.46 (union)Pemiscot: $61.93 (union)Perry: $61.93 (union)Pettis: $53.76 (union)Phelps: $66.04 (union)Pike: $64.46 (union)Platte: $67.03 (union)Polk: $51.00 (union)Pulaski: $66.04 (union)Putnam: $64.46 (union)Ralls: $57.34 (union)Randolph: $64.46 (union)Ray: $67.03 (union)Reynolds: $61.93 (union)Ripley: $54.44 (union)St. Charles: $62.18 (union)St. Clair: $64.46 (union)Ste. Genevieve: $61.93 (union)St. Francois: $61.93 (union)St. Louis: $62.18 (union)Saline: $64.46 (union)Schuyler: $64.46 (union)Scotland: $64.46 (union)Scott: $54.44 (union)Shannon: $61.93 (union)Shelby: $64.46 (union)Stoddard: $54.44 (union)Stone: $64.46 (union)Sullivan: $64.46 (union)Taney: $64.46 (union)Texas: $66.04 (union)Vernon: $61.88 (union)Warren: $62.18 (union)Washington: $62.18 (union)Wayne: $61.93 (union)Webster: $51.00 (union)Worth: $64.46 (union)Wright: $51.00 (union)St. Louis: $62.18 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$53.76$61.93$64.46survey 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)Prevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60$80/hrAndrew (St. Joseph): market median $28.92, prevailing (union) $67.03, gap +$38.11Andrew (St. Joseph)+$38.11Bates (Kansas City): market median $29.72, prevailing (union) $67.03, gap +$37.31Bates (Kansas City)+$37.31Franklin (St. Louis): market median $34.13, prevailing (union) $62.18, gap +$28.05Franklin (St. Louis)+$28.05Boone (Columbia): market median $27.00, prevailing (union) $53.76, gap +$26.76Boone (Columbia)+$26.76Callaway (Jefferson City): market median $27.42, prevailing (union) $53.76, gap +$26.34Callaway (Jefferson City)+$26.34Christian (Springfield): market median $25.00, prevailing (union) $51.00, gap +$26.00Christian (Springfield)+$26.00Bollinger (Cape Girardeau): market median $30.64, prevailing (union) $54.99, gap +$24.35Bollinger (Cape Girardeau)+$24.35Jasper (Joplin): market median $23.34, prevailing (survey) $28.27, gap +$4.93Jasper (Joplin)+$4.93
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Missouri.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AndrewUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260081
BatesUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260082
BuchananUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260081
CaldwellUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260082
CassUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260072
ClayUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260082
ClintonUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260073
DeKalbUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260081
JacksonUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260082
LafayetteUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260082
PlatteUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260079
RayUnion CARP1011-005 2024-05-01$44.63$22.40$67.03MO20260082
DentUnion CARP0012-003 2024-05-01$44.19$21.85$66.04MO20260033
GasconadeUnion CARP0012-003 2024-05-01$44.19$21.85$66.04MO20260033
MariesUnion CARP0012-003 2024-05-01$44.19$21.85$66.04MO20260033

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Missouri prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Missouri?

165.4kConstruction jobsMissouri, 2026-08
+6.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025165kAug 2026
Construction employment in Missouri (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Missouri

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Missouri?

The median carpenter in Missouri earned $29.25 an hour ($60,840 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $22.85–$38.74; the top 10% earn more than $46.30.

Where does Missouri rank for carpenter pay?

Missouri ranks 22nd of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $29.25 an hour, and 9th after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.8, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Missouri?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 109 counties, with a typical package of $62.18 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Missouri?

BLS counted 14,410 carpenters in Missouri in May 2025, 4.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.14; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Missouri 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.