Carpenter salary in Rhode Island
Median $29.25 an hour for 2,580 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Carpenter pay in Rhode Island: the full range
Rhode Island ranks 23rd of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 28th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.59). 2,580 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $23.00 – $25.14 | $47,840 – $52,300 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $25.14 – $36.42 | $52,300 – $75,750 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $36.42 – $43.11 | $75,750 – $89,670 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Carpenter pay by metro in Rhode Island
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $22.84 | $29.76 | $48.42 | 4,140 | 2% above |
Carpenter wages in Rhode Island over time
Table
| Year | Rhode Island $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.29 | $33.41 | $15.35 | 2,420 |
| 2000 | $17.54 | $32.79 | $15.69 | 2,890 |
| 2001 | $17.21 | $31.29 | $16.09 | 3,270 |
| 2002 | $18.75 | $33.55 | $16.44 | 3,610 |
| 2003 | $17.69 | $30.95 | $16.47 | 3,710 |
| 2004 | $17.43 | $29.71 | $16.78 | 4,520 |
| 2005 | $18.59 | $30.64 | $17.11 | 4,570 |
| 2006 | $18.59 | $29.69 | $17.57 | 4,620 |
| 2007 | $19.30 | $29.97 | $18.11 | 4,090 |
| 2008 | $20.33 | $30.40 | $18.72 | 3,400 |
| 2009 | $20.42 | $30.64 | $18.98 | 2,990 |
| 2010 | $21.16 | $31.24 | $19.00 | 2,660 |
| 2011 | $21.27 | $30.44 | $19.24 | 2,380 |
| 2012 | $21.18 | $29.70 | $19.20 | 2,300 |
| 2013 | $20.61 | $28.48 | $19.47 | 2,340 |
| 2014 | $19.70 | $26.79 | $19.63 | 2,430 |
| 2015 | $21.04 | $28.58 | $20.24 | 2,620 |
| 2016 | $22.42 | $30.07 | $20.96 | 2,740 |
| 2017 | $22.82 | $29.97 | $21.71 | 2,900 |
| 2018 | $22.68 | $29.08 | $22.40 | 2,740 |
| 2019 | $23.40 | $29.47 | $23.24 | 2,630 |
| 2020 | $23.59 | $29.34 | $23.81 | 2,460 |
| 2021 | $26.57 | $31.57 | $23.20 | 3,390 |
| 2022 | $28.11 | $30.92 | $24.71 | 3,220 |
| 2023 | $29.34 | $31.00 | $27.09 | 3,130 |
| 2024 | $29.09 | $29.86 | $28.51 | 2,870 |
| 2025 | $29.25 | $29.25 | $29.12 | 2,580 |
In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Rhode Island changed by +2.3% over the last ten years of data and by -0.7% since 2019.
Are there more carpenter jobs in Rhode Island?
BLS counted 2,580 carpenters in Rhode Island in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 10%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for carpenters in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +15.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,540 to 5,210, with about 410 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 2,580 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Rhode Island labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Rhode Island
On federally funded construction in Rhode Island, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 5 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $78.38 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $29.25.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Union CARP0330-001 2025-06-02 | $47.88 | $30.50 | $78.38 | RI20260001 |
| Kent | Union CARP0330-001 2025-06-02 | $47.88 | $30.50 | $78.38 | RI20260001 |
| Newport | Union CARP0330-001 2025-06-02 | $47.88 | $30.50 | $78.38 | RI20260001 |
| Providence | Union CARP0330-001 2025-06-02 | $47.88 | $30.50 | $78.38 | RI20260001 |
| Washington | Union CARP0330-001 2025-06-02 | $47.88 | $30.50 | $78.38 | RI20260001 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Rhode Island prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Rhode Island?
Keep comparing
Carpenter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Rhode Island
More on Rhode Island
Questions this page answers
How much do carpenters make in Rhode Island?
The median carpenter in Rhode Island 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 $25.14–$36.42; the top 10% earn more than $43.11.
Where does Rhode Island rank for carpenter pay?
Rhode Island ranks 23rd of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $29.25 an hour, and 28th after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.3, US = 100).
What is the union carpenter rate in Rhode Island?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 5 counties, with a typical package of $78.38 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many carpenters work in Rhode Island?
BLS counted 2,580 carpenters in Rhode Island in May 2025, 5.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.19; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is carpenter work growing in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's labor market agency projects +15.0% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 4,540 to 5,210 jobs.
How many carpenter openings a year are there in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island projects about 410 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, Rhode Island 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: Rhode Island labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.