Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Nebraska

Median $24.19 an hour for 5,710 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.19/hrMedian hourly wageNebraska, May data
$50,320/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.71 – $35.0010th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,710Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Nebraska: the full range

Wage percentiles, NebraskaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNebraska: 10th $18.71 · 25th $21.77 · median $24.19 · 75th $30.09 · 90th $35.00Nebraska$24.19$18.71$35.00United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Nebraska vs United States, May 2025.

Nebraska ranks 40th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 37th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.85). 5,710 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.71 – $21.77$38,920 – $45,270roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.77 – $30.09$45,270 – $62,580the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$30.09 – $35.00$62,580 – $72,800the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Nebraska

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrOmaha: $25.39Omaha$25.39Sioux City: $24.57Sioux City$24.57Lincoln: $24.00Lincoln$24.00Grand Island: $23.24Grand Island$23.24
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Nebraska, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Omaha$19.43$25.39$27.63$35.623,2305% above
Sioux City$17.18$24.57$28.40$34.493502% above
Lincoln$18.82$24.00$26.20$33.361,0201% below
Grand Island$17.32$23.24$26.81$31.532304% below

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

Carpenter wages in Nebraska over time

Nebraska, 1999-2025NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$24.19Nebraska
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Nebraska vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNebraska $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.94$26.94$15.354,500
2000$14.36$26.85$15.695,690
2001$14.37$26.12$16.095,240
2002$14.68$26.27$16.445,760
2003$14.50$25.37$16.476,570
2004$15.01$25.58$16.786,530
2005$14.62$24.10$17.116,770
2006$14.45$23.08$17.578,190
2007$14.55$22.59$18.118,020
2008$14.82$22.16$18.727,440
2009$14.86$22.30$18.986,260
2010$15.20$22.44$19.005,280
2011$15.85$22.69$19.245,350
2012$15.59$21.86$19.205,850
2013$15.69$21.68$19.476,380
2014$16.04$21.81$19.636,770
2015$16.20$22.00$20.247,420
2016$17.15$23.00$20.967,940
2017$17.61$23.13$21.717,710
2018$17.87$22.91$22.407,350
2019$18.02$22.69$23.247,660
2020$18.44$22.94$23.817,470
2021$18.39$21.85$23.205,850
2022$21.29$23.42$24.715,680
2023$22.75$24.04$27.096,200
2024$23.84$24.47$28.516,550
2025$24.19$24.19$29.125,710

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Nebraska changed by +9.9% over the last ten years of data and by +6.6% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Nebraska?

-25.5%Jobs since 20197,660 then, 5,710 in 2025
-23.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 13th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Nebraska has changed by +26.9%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -25.5%.

Carpenters in Nebraska vs United States, 1999 = 100NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025127Nebraska87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Nebraska vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNebraska jobsNebraska indexUS index
19994,500100100
20005,690126111
20015,240116110
20025,760128111
20036,570146110
20046,530145114
20056,770150121
20068,190182128
20078,020178126
20087,440165117
20096,26013996
20105,28011780
20115,35011975
20125,85013074
20136,38014275
20146,77015080
20157,42016583
20167,94017688
20177,71017190
20187,35016393
20197,66017095
20207,47016691
20215,85013087
20225,68012690
20236,20013891
20246,55014690
20255,71012787

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 Nebraska

+8.3%Projected growth in Nebraska2024–2034, state agency
730Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
8,880Jobs in 20249,620 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Nebraska's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +8.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,880 to 9,620, with about 730 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,710 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Nebraska

On federally funded construction in Nebraska, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 93 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $52.08 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.37). 85 of the 93 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Adams County at $19.74). The market median for the state is $24.19.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NEAdams: $19.74 (survey)Antelope: $20.52 (survey)Arthur: $18.37 (survey)Banner: $18.37 (survey)Blaine: $19.74 (survey)Boone: $20.52 (survey)Box Butte: $18.37 (survey)Boyd: $20.52 (survey)Brown: $20.52 (survey)Buffalo: $18.51 (survey)Burt: $20.52 (survey)Butler: $17.56 (survey)Cass: $52.08 (union)Cedar: $20.52 (survey)Chase: $18.37 (survey)Cherry: $18.37 (survey)Cheyenne: $18.37 (survey)Clay: $19.74 (survey)Colfax: $20.52 (survey)Cuming: $20.52 (survey)Custer: $19.74 (survey)Dakota: $52.08 (union)Dawes: $18.37 (survey)Dawson: $18.37 (survey)Deuel: $18.37 (survey)Dixon: $52.08 (union)Dodge: $20.52 (survey)Douglas: $52.08 (union)Dundy: $18.37 (survey)Fillmore: $17.56 (survey)Franklin: $19.74 (survey)Frontier: $18.37 (survey)Furnas: $18.37 (survey)Gage: $17.56 (survey)Garden: $18.37 (survey)Garfield: $19.74 (survey)Gosper: $18.37 (survey)Grant: $18.37 (survey)Greeley: $19.74 (survey)Hall: $19.74 (survey)Hamilton: $19.74 (survey)Harlan: $19.74 (survey)Hayes: $18.37 (survey)Hitchcock: $18.37 (survey)Holt: $20.52 (survey)Hooker: $18.37 (survey)Howard: $19.74 (survey)Jefferson: $17.56 (survey)Johnson: $17.56 (survey)Kearney: $19.74 (survey)Keith: $18.37 (survey)Keya Paha: $20.52 (survey)Kimball: $18.37 (survey)Knox: $20.52 (survey)Lancaster: $52.08 (union)Lincoln: $18.37 (survey)Logan: $18.37 (survey)Loup: $19.74 (survey)McPherson: $18.37 (survey)Madison: $20.52 (survey)Merrick: $19.74 (survey)Morrill: $18.37 (survey)Nance: $19.74 (survey)Nemaha: $17.56 (survey)Nuckolls: $19.74 (survey)Otoe: $17.56 (survey)Pawnee: $17.56 (survey)Perkins: $18.37 (survey)Phelps: $19.74 (survey)Pierce: $20.52 (survey)Platte: $20.52 (survey)Polk: $17.56 (survey)Red Willow: $18.37 (survey)Richardson: $17.56 (survey)Rock: $20.52 (survey)Saline: $17.56 (survey)Sarpy: $52.08 (union)Saunders: $20.21 (survey)Scotts Bluff: $18.37 (survey)Seward: $52.08 (union)Sheridan: $18.37 (survey)Sherman: $19.74 (survey)Sioux: $18.37 (survey)Stanton: $20.52 (survey)Thayer: $17.56 (survey)Thomas: $18.37 (survey)Thurston: $20.52 (survey)Valley: $19.74 (survey)Washington: $52.08 (union)Wayne: $20.52 (survey)Webster: $19.74 (survey)Wheeler: $19.74 (survey)York: $17.56 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$18.37$19.74$20.52survey 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)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrLancaster (Lincoln): market median $24.00, prevailing (union) $52.08, gap +$28.08Lancaster (Lincoln)+$28.08Dakota (Sioux City): market median $24.57, prevailing (union) $52.08, gap +$27.51Dakota (Sioux City)+$27.51Cass (Omaha): market median $25.39, prevailing (union) $52.08, gap +$26.69Cass (Omaha)+$26.69Hall (Grand Island): market median $23.24, prevailing (survey) $19.74, gap −$3.50Hall (Grand Island)−$3.50
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Nebraska.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
CassUnion CARP0427-001 2025-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260056
DakotaUnion CARP0427-002 2024-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260063
DixonUnion CARP0427-002 2024-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260063
DouglasUnion CARP0427-001 2025-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260057
LancasterUnion CARP0427-002 2024-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260058
SarpyUnion CARP0427-001 2025-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260059
SewardUnion CARP0427-002 2024-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260061
WashingtonUnion CARP0427-001 2025-06-01$33.42$18.66$52.08NE20260062
AntelopeSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$17.39$3.13$20.52NE20260078
BooneSurvey SUNE2012-002 2012-04-19$17.39$3.13$20.52NE20260065
BoydSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$17.39$3.13$20.52NE20260078
BrownSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$17.39$3.13$20.52NE20260078
BurtSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$17.39$3.13$20.52NE20260078
CedarSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$17.39$3.13$20.52NE20260078
ColfaxSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$17.39$3.13$20.52NE20260078

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

Is construction work growing in Nebraska?

70.4kConstruction jobsNebraska, 2026-09
+7.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202570kSep 2026
Construction employment in Nebraska (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Nebraska

More on Nebraska

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Nebraska?

The median carpenter in Nebraska earned $24.19 an hour ($50,320 a year) in May 2025, 17% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $21.77–$30.09; the top 10% earn more than $35.00.

Where does Nebraska rank for carpenter pay?

Nebraska ranks 40th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $24.19 an hour, and 37th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Nebraska?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 8 counties, with a typical package of $52.08 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Nebraska?

BLS counted 5,710 carpenters in Nebraska in May 2025, 5.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.29; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Nebraska?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Nebraska went from 7,420 in 2015 to 5,710 in 2025, -23.0%, and -25.5% since 2019. Nebraska's labor market agency projects +8.3% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 8,880 to 9,620 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Nebraska?

Nebraska projects about 730 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, Nebraska 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: Nebraska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.