Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Ohio

Median $29.24 an hour for 18,450 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.24/hrMedian hourly wageOhio, May data
$60,810/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.33 – $39.0110th to 90th percentilehourly range
18,450Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Ohio: the full range

Wage percentiles, OhioMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrOhio: 10th $20.33 · 25th $23.42 · median $29.24 · 75th $36.47 · 90th $39.01Ohio$29.24$20.33$39.01United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Ohio vs United States, May 2025.

Ohio ranks 24th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.51). 18,450 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$20.33 – $23.42$42,290 – $48,720roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.42 – $36.47$48,720 – $75,860the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$36.47 – $39.01$75,860 – $81,140the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Ohio

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrColumbus: $31.96Columbus$31.96Akron: $29.36Akron$29.36Toledo: $29.36Toledo$29.36Cleveland: $29.16Cleveland$29.16Cincinnati: $28.90Cincinnati$28.90Dayton: $28.04Dayton$28.04Weirton: $28.00Weirton$28.00Mansfield: $27.76Mansfield$27.76Sandusky: $27.67Sandusky$27.67Youngstown: $27.39Youngstown$27.39Canton: $27.18Canton$27.18Lima: $25.87Lima$25.87
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Ohio, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Columbus$22.72$31.96$33.47$39.723,6209% above
Akron$20.95$29.36$31.43$38.06980about the same as
Toledo$20.80$29.36$32.09$38.16980about the same as
Cleveland$20.97$29.16$31.05$41.773,280about the same as
Cincinnati$21.24$28.90$30.29$38.344,6101% below
Dayton$17.65$28.04$30.25$37.009504% below
Weirton$18.35$28.00$31.46$36.351604% below
Mansfield$18.84$27.76$31.23$36.741505% below
Sandusky$18.18$27.67$30.99$35.791405% below
Youngstown$17.83$27.39$31.34$38.594606% below
Canton$17.44$27.18$30.40$38.033807% below
Lima$18.92$25.87$28.84$57.8413012% below
Huntington$17.24$25.00$28.28$33.9078015% below
Wheeling$17.91$24.10$27.29$33.9219018% below
Springfield$16.55$23.26$25.70$35.666020% below

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

Carpenter wages in Ohio over time

Ohio, 1999-2025OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.24Ohio$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Ohio vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearOhio $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.87$30.67$15.3529,740
2000$15.78$29.50$15.6929,620
2001$15.97$29.03$16.0929,590
2002$16.30$29.17$16.4430,880
2003$16.21$28.36$16.4729,290
2004$16.22$27.64$16.7830,850
2005$16.31$26.89$17.1131,750
2006$16.43$26.24$17.5729,810
2007$17.33$26.91$18.1129,370
2008$18.25$27.29$18.7226,720
2009$18.23$27.36$18.9824,310
2010$17.94$26.49$19.0019,790
2011$18.39$26.32$19.2419,660
2012$19.26$27.01$19.2018,560
2013$20.39$28.18$19.4718,740
2014$20.50$27.88$19.6318,580
2015$21.05$28.59$20.2418,220
2016$21.28$28.54$20.9618,990
2017$21.88$28.74$21.7118,920
2018$22.23$28.50$22.4019,280
2019$23.34$29.39$23.2418,950
2020$23.81$29.62$23.8119,600
2021$23.17$27.53$23.2016,960
2022$26.22$28.84$24.7116,830
2023$26.21$27.69$27.0918,270
2024$28.04$28.78$28.5117,280
2025$29.24$29.24$29.1218,450

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Ohio changed by +2.3% over the last ten years of data and by -0.5% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Ohio?

-2.6%Jobs since 201918,950 then, 18,450 in 2025
+1.3%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.3Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 39th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Ohio has changed by -38.0%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -2.6%.

Carpenters in Ohio vs United States, 1999 = 100OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages25507510012515020002005201020152020202587United States62Ohio
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Ohio vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearOhio jobsOhio indexUS index
199929,740100100
200029,620100111
200129,590100110
200230,880104111
200329,29098110
200430,850104114
200531,750107121
200629,810100128
200729,37099126
200826,72090117
200924,3108296
201019,7906680
201119,6606675
201218,5606274
201318,7406375
201418,5806280
201518,2206183
201618,9906488
201718,9206490
201819,2806593
201918,9506495
202019,6006691
202116,9605787
202216,8305790
202318,2706191
202417,2805890
202518,4506287

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 Ohio

+1.8%Projected growth in Ohio2024–2034, state agency
1,730Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
23,540Jobs in 202423,970 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Ohio's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +1.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 23,540 to 23,970, with about 1,730 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 18,450 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Ohio

On federally funded construction in Ohio, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 35 of the 88 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $59.53 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $38.34). 43 of the 88 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Adams County at $38.34). The market median for the state is $29.24.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, OHAdams: $38.34 (survey)Allen: $25.10 (survey)Ashland: $47.67 (survey)Ashtabula: $61.02 (union)Athens: $59.07 (union)Auglaize: $30.17 (survey)Belmont: $56.89 (union)Brown: $51.36 (union)Butler: $51.36 (union)Carroll: $35.01 (survey)Champaign: $30.17 (survey)Clark: $28.93 (survey)Clermont: $51.36 (union)Clinton: $38.34 (survey)Columbiana: $47.67 (survey)Coshocton: $38.74 (survey)Crawford: $47.67 (survey)Cuyahoga: $61.02 (union)Darke: $30.17 (survey)Defiance: $24.44 (survey)Delaware: $59.53 (union)Erie: $60.95 (union)Fairfield: $59.53 (union)Fayette: $61.02 (union)Franklin: $59.53 (union)Fulton: $60.95 (union)Gallia: $38.34 (survey)Geauga: $35.03 (survey)Greene: $49.40 (union)Guernsey: $38.74 (survey)Hamilton: $51.36 (union)Hancock: $24.97 (survey)Hardin: $30.17 (survey)Harrison: $38.74 (survey)Henry: $30.17 (survey)Highland: $38.34 (survey)Hocking: $38.34 (survey)Holmes: $47.67 (survey)Huron: $47.67 (survey)Jackson: $38.34 (survey)Jefferson: $56.89 (union)Knox: $47.67 (survey)Lake: $40.37 (survey)Lawrence: $36.60 (survey)Licking: $59.53 (union)Logan: $30.17 (survey)Lorain: $61.02 (union)Lucas: $60.95 (union)Madison: $59.53 (union)Mahoning: $55.31 (union)Marion: $47.67 (survey)Medina: $61.02 (union)Meigs: $38.34 (survey)Mercer: $30.17 (survey)Miami: $28.93 (survey)Monroe: $38.74 (survey)Montgomery: $27.29 (survey)Morgan: $38.74 (survey)Morrow: $59.53 (union)Muskingum: $38.74 (survey)Noble: $38.74 (survey)Ottawa: $34.60 (survey)Paulding: $30.17 (survey)Perry: $38.74 (survey)Pickaway: $59.53 (union)Pike: $38.34 (survey)Portage: $35.69 (survey)Preble: $28.93 (survey)Putnam: $55.41 (union)Richland: $59.53 (union)Ross: $57.12 (union)Sandusky: $47.67 (survey)Scioto: $57.12 (union)Seneca: $47.67 (survey)Shelby: $30.17 (survey)Stark: $35.01 (survey)Summit: $60.08 (union)Trumbull: $55.31 (union)Tuscarawas: $38.74 (survey)Union: $59.53 (union)Van Wert: $25.65 (survey)Vinton: $38.34 (survey)Warren: $51.36 (union)Washington: $36.60 (survey)Wayne: $56.15 (union)Williams: $55.41 (union)Wood: $60.95 (union)Wyandot: $47.67 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$34.76$38.74$48.02$59.53survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrErie (Sandusky): market median $27.67, prevailing (union) $60.95, gap +$33.28Erie (Sandusky)+$33.28Belmont (Wheeling): market median $24.10, prevailing (union) $56.89, gap +$32.79Belmont (Wheeling)+$32.79Ashtabula (Cleveland): market median $29.16, prevailing (union) $61.02, gap +$31.86Ashtabula (Cleveland)+$31.86Richland (Mansfield): market median $27.76, prevailing (union) $59.53, gap +$31.77Richland (Mansfield)+$31.77Fulton (Toledo): market median $29.36, prevailing (union) $60.95, gap +$31.59Fulton (Toledo)+$31.59Summit (Akron): market median $29.36, prevailing (union) $60.08, gap +$30.72Summit (Akron)+$30.72Jefferson (Weirton): market median $28.00, prevailing (union) $56.89, gap +$28.89Jefferson (Weirton)+$28.89Mahoning (Youngstown): market median $27.39, prevailing (union) $55.31, gap +$27.92Mahoning (Youngstown)+$27.92Delaware (Columbus): market median $31.96, prevailing (union) $59.53, gap +$27.57Delaware (Columbus)+$27.57Brown (Cincinnati): market median $28.90, prevailing (union) $51.36, gap +$22.46Brown (Cincinnati)+$22.46Greene (Dayton): market median $28.04, prevailing (union) $49.40, gap +$21.36Greene (Dayton)+$21.36Lawrence (Huntington): market median $25.00, prevailing (survey) $36.60, gap +$11.60Lawrence (Huntington)+$11.60Carroll (Canton): market median $27.18, prevailing (survey) $35.01, gap +$7.83Carroll (Canton)+$7.83Clark (Springfield): market median $23.26, prevailing (survey) $28.93, gap +$5.67Clark (Springfield)+$5.67Allen (Lima): market median $25.87, prevailing (survey) $25.10, gap −$0.77Allen (Lima)−$0.77
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Ohio.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AshtabulaUnion CARP0435-002 2024-05-01$37.52$23.50$61.02OH20260032
CuyahogaUnion CARP0435-004 2024-05-01$37.52$23.50$61.02OH20260074
FayetteUnion CARP0435-003 2024-05-01$37.52$23.50$61.02OH20260040
LorainUnion CARP0435-002 2024-05-01$37.52$23.50$61.02OH20260087
MedinaUnion CARP0435-002 2024-05-01$37.52$23.50$61.02OH20260091
ErieUnion CARP0351-003 2024-05-01$34.42$26.53$60.95OH20260076
FultonUnion CARP0351-002 2024-05-01$34.42$26.53$60.95OH20260079
LucasUnion CARP0351-002 2024-05-01$34.42$26.53$60.95OH20260088
WoodUnion CARP0351-002 2024-05-01$34.42$26.53$60.95OH20260105
SummitUnion CARP0285-005 2024-05-01$36.29$23.79$60.08OH20260100
DelawareUnion CARP0200-003 2025-05-01$35.94$23.59$59.53OH20260075
FairfieldUnion CARP0200-004 2025-05-01$35.94$23.59$59.53OH20260077
FranklinUnion CARP0200-004 2025-05-01$35.94$23.59$59.53OH20260078
LickingUnion CARP0200-003 2025-05-01$35.94$23.59$59.53OH20260086
MadisonUnion CARP0200-003 2025-05-01$35.94$23.59$59.53OH20260089

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

Is construction work growing in Ohio?

285.5kConstruction jobsOhio, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025286kSep 2026
Construction employment in Ohio (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Ohio

More on Ohio

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Ohio?

The median carpenter in Ohio earned $29.24 an hour ($60,810 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $23.42–$36.47; the top 10% earn more than $39.01.

Where does Ohio rank for carpenter pay?

Ohio ranks 24th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $29.24 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.8, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Ohio?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 35 counties, with a typical package of $59.53 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Ohio?

BLS counted 18,450 carpenters in Ohio 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 Ohio?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Ohio went from 18,220 in 2015 to 18,450 in 2025, +1.3%, and -2.6% since 2019. Ohio's labor market agency projects +1.8% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 23,540 to 23,970 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Ohio?

Ohio projects about 1,730 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, Ohio 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: Ohio labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.