Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in New Jersey

Median $30.77 an hour for 14,230 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.77/hrMedian hourly wageNew Jersey, May data
$64,010/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.00 – $58.4110th to 90th percentilehourly range
14,230Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in New Jersey: the full range

Wage percentiles, New JerseyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrNew Jersey: 10th $21.00 · 25th $24.63 · median $30.77 · 75th $38.67 · 90th $58.41New Jersey$30.77$21.00$58.41United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: New Jersey vs United States, May 2025.

New Jersey ranks 10th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 30th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.28). 14,230 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.00 – $24.63$43,680 – $51,220roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.63 – $38.67$51,220 – $80,430the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$38.67 – $58.41$80,430 – $121,490the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in New Jersey

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrNew York City: $35.72New York City$35.72Trenton: $31.58Trenton$31.58Vineland: $30.50Vineland$30.50Philadelphia: $29.70Philadelphia$29.70Atlantic City: $29.25Atlantic City$29.25Allentown: $28.63Allentown$28.63
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in New Jersey, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
New York City$22.53$35.72$31.72$59.5234,21016% above
Trenton$21.49$31.58$30.60$58.436103% above
Vineland$19.49$30.50$31.77$56.381801% below
Philadelphia$21.97$29.70$28.95$47.3414,2603% below
Atlantic City$18.35$29.25$29.58$55.969705% below
Allentown$18.73$28.63$28.63$41.641,3907% below

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

Carpenter wages in New Jersey over time

New Jersey, 1999-2025New JerseyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$30.77New Jersey$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, New Jersey vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNew Jersey $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$22.47$43.42$15.3514,170
2000$19.88$37.17$15.6917,820
2001$20.66$37.56$16.0919,110
2002$20.26$36.26$16.4421,320
2003$19.08$33.38$16.4721,570
2004$20.89$35.60$16.7821,050
2005$22.01$36.28$17.1120,940
2006$23.17$37.00$17.5720,890
2007$23.25$36.10$18.1121,080
2008$23.26$34.78$18.7220,760
2009$23.73$35.61$18.9818,980
2010$24.62$36.35$19.0016,640
2011$24.51$35.08$19.2415,130
2012$22.89$32.10$19.2013,850
2013$23.07$31.88$19.4714,640
2014$23.83$32.41$19.6315,350
2015$25.23$34.27$20.2416,560
2016$26.37$35.37$20.9616,840
2017$27.30$35.86$21.7116,360
2018$27.98$35.87$22.4015,960
2019$28.72$36.17$23.2415,150
2020$27.60$34.33$23.8113,930
2021$29.86$35.48$23.2014,960
2022$30.67$33.74$24.7115,050
2023$33.47$35.36$27.0913,400
2024$29.75$30.53$28.5112,930
2025$30.77$30.77$29.1214,230

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in New Jersey changed by -10.2% over the last ten years of data and by -14.9% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in New Jersey?

-6.1%Jobs since 201915,150 then, 14,230 in 2025
-14.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.3Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 38th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in New Jersey has changed by +0.4%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -6.1%.

Carpenters in New Jersey vs United States, 1999 = 100New JerseyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025100New Jersey87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, New Jersey vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNew Jersey jobsNew Jersey indexUS index
199914,170100100
200017,820126111
200119,110135110
200221,320150111
200321,570152110
200421,050149114
200520,940148121
200620,890147128
200721,080149126
200820,760146117
200918,98013496
201016,64011780
201115,13010775
201213,8509874
201314,64010375
201415,35010880
201516,56011783
201616,84011988
201716,36011690
201815,96011393
201915,15010795
202013,9309891
202114,96010687
202215,05010690
202313,4009591
202412,9309190
202514,23010087

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 Jersey

+4.1%Projected growth in New Jersey2024–2034, state agency
1,370Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
17,890Jobs in 202418,620 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

New Jersey's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +4.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 17,890 to 18,620, with about 1,370 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 14,230 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in New Jersey

On federally funded construction in New Jersey, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 21 of the 21 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $91.59 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $30.77.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NJAtlantic: $91.59 (union)Bergen: $91.59 (union)Burlington: $91.59 (union)Camden: $91.59 (union)Cape May: $91.59 (union)Cumberland: $91.59 (union)Essex: $91.59 (union)Gloucester: $91.59 (union)Hudson: $91.59 (union)Hunterdon: $91.59 (union)Mercer: $91.59 (union)Middlesex: $91.59 (union)Monmouth: $91.59 (union)Morris: $91.59 (union)Ocean: $91.59 (union)Passaic: $91.59 (union)Salem: $91.59 (union)Somerset: $91.59 (union)Sussex: $91.59 (union)Union: $91.59 (union)Warren: $91.59 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr
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)$20$40$60$80$100/hrWarren (Allentown): market median $28.63, prevailing (union) $91.59, gap +$62.96Warren (Allentown)+$62.96Atlantic (Atlantic City): market median $29.25, prevailing (union) $91.59, gap +$62.34Atlantic (Atlantic City)+$62.34Burlington (Philadelphia): market median $29.70, prevailing (union) $91.59, gap +$61.89Burlington (Philadelphia)+$61.89Cumberland (Vineland): market median $30.50, prevailing (union) $91.59, gap +$61.09Cumberland (Vineland)+$61.09Mercer (Trenton): market median $31.58, prevailing (union) $91.59, gap +$60.01Mercer (Trenton)+$60.01Bergen (New York City): market median $35.72, prevailing (union) $91.59, gap +$55.87Bergen (New York City)+$55.87
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in New Jersey.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AtlanticUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260025
BergenUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260026
BurlingtonUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260027
CamdenUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260028
Cape MayUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260029
CumberlandUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260030
EssexUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260031
GloucesterUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260032
HudsonUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260033
HunterdonUnion CARP0006-011 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260034
MercerUnion CARP0006-011 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260035
MiddlesexUnion CARP0006-011 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260036
MonmouthUnion CARP0006-011 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260037
MorrisUnion CARP0006-010 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260038
OceanUnion CARP0006-011 2025-05-01$57.42$34.17$91.59NJ20260039

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

Is construction work growing in New Jersey?

167.0kConstruction jobsNew Jersey, 2026-09
-1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025167kSep 2026
Construction employment in New Jersey (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in New Jersey

More on New Jersey

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in New Jersey?

The median carpenter in New Jersey earned $30.77 an hour ($64,010 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $24.63–$38.67; the top 10% earn more than $58.41.

Where does New Jersey rank for carpenter pay?

New Jersey ranks 10th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $30.77 an hour, and 30th after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (BEA price parity 108.8, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in New Jersey?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 21 counties, with a typical package of $91.59 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in New Jersey?

BLS counted 14,230 carpenters in New Jersey in May 2025, 3.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.77; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in New Jersey?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in New Jersey went from 16,560 in 2015 to 14,230 in 2025, -14.1%, and -6.1% since 2019. New Jersey's labor market agency projects +4.1% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 17,890 to 18,620 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in New Jersey?

New Jersey projects about 1,370 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 Jersey 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 Jersey labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.