Carpenter salary in New Hampshire
Median $29.42 an hour for 3,760 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Carpenter pay in New Hampshire: the full range
New Hampshire ranks 21st of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 31st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.23). 3,760 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $21.87 – $24.12 | $45,500 – $50,170 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.12 – $35.46 | $50,170 – $73,760 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $35.46 – $44.43 | $73,760 – $92,410 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in New Hampshire
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $23.47 | $36.16 | $33.39 | $59.71 | 12,720 | 23% above |
| Manchester | $22.55 | $29.47 | $27.88 | $45.34 | 820 | about the same as |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Carpenter wages in New Hampshire over time
Table
| Year | New Hampshire $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.20 | $25.51 | $15.35 | 4,340 |
| 2000 | $14.11 | $26.38 | $15.69 | 4,280 |
| 2001 | $14.85 | $27.00 | $16.09 | 4,170 |
| 2002 | $15.50 | $27.74 | $16.44 | 4,320 |
| 2003 | $16.32 | $28.55 | $16.47 | 4,250 |
| 2004 | $17.26 | $29.42 | $16.78 | 3,970 |
| 2005 | $16.68 | $27.50 | $17.11 | 4,480 |
| 2006 | $17.28 | $27.60 | $17.57 | 4,600 |
| 2007 | $18.14 | $28.17 | $18.11 | 4,490 |
| 2008 | $19.18 | $28.68 | $18.72 | 4,170 |
| 2009 | $19.25 | $28.89 | $18.98 | 3,420 |
| 2010 | $19.14 | $28.26 | $19.00 | 2,680 |
| 2011 | $19.69 | $28.18 | $19.24 | 2,240 |
| 2012 | $19.89 | $27.89 | $19.20 | 2,440 |
| 2013 | $19.83 | $27.40 | $19.47 | 2,700 |
| 2014 | $20.27 | $27.57 | $19.63 | 2,890 |
| 2015 | $20.74 | $28.17 | $20.24 | 2,830 |
| 2016 | $21.10 | $28.30 | $20.96 | 3,100 |
| 2017 | $21.83 | $28.67 | $21.71 | 3,380 |
| 2018 | $22.35 | $28.65 | $22.40 | 3,590 |
| 2019 | $23.31 | $29.35 | $23.24 | 3,380 |
| 2020 | $23.61 | $29.37 | $23.81 | 3,100 |
| 2021 | $23.22 | $27.59 | $23.20 | 3,130 |
| 2022 | $24.45 | $26.90 | $24.71 | 3,610 |
| 2023 | $28.32 | $29.92 | $27.09 | 3,530 |
| 2024 | $28.79 | $29.55 | $28.51 | 3,960 |
| 2025 | $29.42 | $29.42 | $29.12 | 3,760 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in New Hampshire changed by +4.4% over the last ten years of data and by +0.2% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs in New Hampshire?
Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in New Hampshire has changed by -13.4%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +11.2%.
Table
| Year | New Hampshire jobs | New Hampshire index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 4,340 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 4,280 | 99 | 111 |
| 2001 | 4,170 | 96 | 110 |
| 2002 | 4,320 | 100 | 111 |
| 2003 | 4,250 | 98 | 110 |
| 2004 | 3,970 | 92 | 114 |
| 2005 | 4,480 | 103 | 121 |
| 2006 | 4,600 | 106 | 128 |
| 2007 | 4,490 | 104 | 126 |
| 2008 | 4,170 | 96 | 117 |
| 2009 | 3,420 | 79 | 96 |
| 2010 | 2,680 | 62 | 80 |
| 2011 | 2,240 | 52 | 75 |
| 2012 | 2,440 | 56 | 74 |
| 2013 | 2,700 | 62 | 75 |
| 2014 | 2,890 | 67 | 80 |
| 2015 | 2,830 | 65 | 83 |
| 2016 | 3,100 | 71 | 88 |
| 2017 | 3,380 | 78 | 90 |
| 2018 | 3,590 | 83 | 93 |
| 2019 | 3,380 | 78 | 95 |
| 2020 | 3,100 | 71 | 91 |
| 2021 | 3,130 | 72 | 87 |
| 2022 | 3,610 | 83 | 90 |
| 2023 | 3,530 | 81 | 91 |
| 2024 | 3,960 | 91 | 90 |
| 2025 | 3,760 | 87 | 87 |
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 New Hampshire
New Hampshire's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +6.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,260 to 5,580, with about 420 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,760 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: New Hampshire labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in New Hampshire
On federally funded construction in New Hampshire, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 10 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $31.97). 10 of the 10 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Belknap County at $25.00). The market median for the state is $29.42.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strafford | Survey SUNH2015-009 2017-06-16 | $26.14 | $12.05 | $38.19 | NH20260023 |
| Grafton | Survey SUNH2015-004 2017-06-16 | $24.86 | $12.82 | $37.68 | NH20260018 |
| Coos | Survey SUNH2015-003 2017-06-16 | $24.62 | $12.14 | $36.76 | NH20260017 |
| Merrimack | Survey SUNH2015-005 2017-06-16 | $26.19 | $9.06 | $35.25 | NH20260019 |
| Rockingham | Survey SUNH2015-008 2017-06-16 | $24.47 | $8.55 | $33.02 | NH20260022 |
| Hillsborough | Survey SUNH2015-007 2017-06-16 | $24.43 | $6.49 | $30.92 | NH20260021 |
| Cheshire | Survey SUNH2015-006 2017-06-16 | $21.46 | $4.22 | $25.68 | NH20260020 |
| Sullivan | Survey SUNH2015-006 2017-06-16 | $21.46 | $4.22 | $25.68 | NH20260020 |
| Belknap | Survey SUNH2015-001 2017-06-16 | $25.00 | $0.00 | $25.00 | NH20260015 |
| Carroll | Survey SUNH2015-002 2017-06-16 | $22.75 | $0.00 | $22.75 | NH20260016 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Hampshire prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Hampshire?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Hampshire
More on New Hampshire
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in New Hampshire?
The median carpenter in New Hampshire earned $29.42 an hour ($61,200 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $24.12–$35.46; the top 10% earn more than $44.43.
Where does New Hampshire rank for carpenter pay?
New Hampshire ranks 21st of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $29.42 an hour, and 31st after adjusting for New Hampshire's cost of living (BEA price parity 104.2, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in New Hampshire?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a carpenter classification for most New Hampshire counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many carpenters work in New Hampshire?
BLS counted 3,760 carpenters in New Hampshire in May 2025, 5.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.28; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is carpenter work growing in New Hampshire?
The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in New Hampshire went from 2,830 in 2015 to 3,760 in 2025, +32.9%, and +11.2% since 2019. New Hampshire's labor market agency projects +6.1% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 5,260 to 5,580 jobs.
How many carpenter openings a year are there in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire projects about 420 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, New Hampshire 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: New Hampshire labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.