Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Tennessee

Median $24.44 an hour for 8,200 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.44/hrMedian hourly wageTennessee, May data
$50,830/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.01 – $31.9510th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,200Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Carpenter pay in Tennessee: the full range

Wage percentiles, TennesseeMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrTennessee: 10th $18.01 · 25th $22.36 · median $24.44 · 75th $28.80 · 90th $31.95Tennessee$24.44$18.01$31.95United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Tennessee vs United States, May 2025.

Tennessee ranks 38th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 38th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.59). 8,200 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.01 – $22.36$37,460 – $46,520roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.36 – $28.80$46,520 – $59,900the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.80 – $31.95$59,900 – $66,450the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Tennessee

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrNashville: $26.81Nashville$26.81Chattanooga: $24.41Chattanooga$24.41Memphis: $24.34Memphis$24.34Knoxville: $24.23Knoxville$24.23Morristown: $23.61Morristown$23.61Clarksville: $23.60Clarksville$23.60Cleveland: $23.31Cleveland$23.31Kingsport: $23.24Kingsport$23.24Jackson: $23.05Jackson$23.05Johnson City: $23.04Johnson City$23.04
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Tennessee, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Nashville$19.29$26.81$27.84$33.503,04010% above
Chattanooga$17.94$24.41$26.68$31.73620about the same as
Memphis$19.35$24.34$26.40$31.151,240about the same as
Knoxville$17.60$24.23$26.17$33.701,2801% below
Morristown$17.28$23.61$27.33$32.131303% below
Clarksville$17.44$23.60$25.96$31.282903% below
Cleveland$18.86$23.31$26.46$30.97805% below
Kingsport$17.46$23.24$26.90$30.903905% below
Jackson$17.50$23.05$26.96$30.091706% below
Johnson City$18.46$23.04$26.21$30.791606% below

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

Carpenter wages in Tennessee over time

Tennessee, 1999-2025TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$24.44Tennessee
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Tennessee vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTennessee $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.00$25.12$15.3511,830
2000$12.98$24.27$15.6911,020
2001$13.26$24.10$16.0912,180
2002$13.47$24.11$16.4411,080
2003$13.46$23.55$16.4711,190
2004$13.70$23.35$16.7813,020
2005$13.61$22.44$17.1112,900
2006$14.19$22.66$17.5712,860
2007$14.54$22.58$18.1111,770
2008$15.26$22.82$18.7210,550
2009$15.64$23.47$18.989,510
2010$15.97$23.58$19.008,630
2011$16.44$23.53$19.247,970
2012$16.53$23.18$19.207,860
2013$16.48$22.78$19.476,520
2014$16.38$22.28$19.636,580
2015$17.26$23.44$20.246,160
2016$17.67$23.70$20.966,650
2017$18.22$23.93$21.717,290
2018$18.63$23.89$22.407,490
2019$19.78$24.91$23.248,490
2020$20.71$25.76$23.818,260
2021$20.85$24.77$23.207,390
2022$22.31$24.54$24.719,730
2023$23.09$24.40$27.099,930
2024$23.81$24.44$28.518,680
2025$24.44$24.44$29.128,200

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Tennessee changed by +4.2% over the last ten years of data and by -1.9% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Tennessee?

-3.4%Jobs since 20198,490 then, 8,200 in 2025
+33.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.6× the US share, 47th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Tennessee has changed by -30.7%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -3.4%.

Carpenters in Tennessee vs United States, 1999 = 100TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages25507510012515020002005201020152020202587United States69Tennessee
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Tennessee vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTennessee jobsTennessee indexUS index
199911,830100100
200011,02093111
200112,180103110
200211,08094111
200311,19095110
200413,020110114
200512,900109121
200612,860109128
200711,770100126
200810,55089117
20099,5108096
20108,6307380
20117,9706775
20127,8606674
20136,5205575
20146,5805680
20156,1605283
20166,6505688
20177,2906290
20187,4906393
20198,4907295
20208,2607091
20217,3906287
20229,7308290
20239,9308491
20248,6807390
20258,2006987

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 Tennessee

+10.6%Projected growth in Tennessee2024–2034, state agency
1,210Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
14,160Jobs in 202415,660 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +10.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 14,160 to 15,660, with about 1,210 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,200 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Tennessee

On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 7 of the 95 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $44.94 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $19.40). The market median for the state is $24.44.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TNAnderson: $46.67 (union)Bedford: $21.80 (survey)Benton: $19.40 (survey)Bledsoe: $16.12 (survey)Blount: $16.96 (survey)Bradley: $18.00 (survey)Campbell: $20.03 (survey)Cannon: $20.06 (survey)Carroll: $19.40 (survey)Carter: $17.72 (survey)Cheatham: $20.06 (survey)Chester: $44.94 (union)Claiborne: $16.12 (survey)Clay: $16.12 (survey)Cocke: $16.12 (survey)Coffee: $21.80 (survey)Crockett: $44.94 (union)Cumberland: $16.12 (survey)Davidson: $22.07 (survey)Decatur: $19.40 (survey)DeKalb: $16.12 (survey)Dickson: $20.06 (survey)Dyer: $19.40 (survey)Fayette: $44.94 (union)Fentress: $16.12 (survey)Franklin: $21.80 (survey)Gibson: $19.40 (survey)Giles: $21.80 (survey)Grainger: $20.03 (survey)Greene: $16.12 (survey)Grundy: $21.80 (survey)Hamblen: $21.78 (survey)Hamilton: $18.00 (survey)Hancock: $16.12 (survey)Hardeman: $19.40 (survey)Hardin: $19.40 (survey)Hawkins: $18.16 (survey)Haywood: $19.40 (survey)Henderson: $19.40 (survey)Henry: $19.40 (survey)Hickman: $20.06 (survey)Houston: $19.40 (survey)Humphreys: $19.40 (survey)Jackson: $16.12 (survey)Jefferson: $21.78 (survey)Johnson: $16.12 (survey)Knox: $20.09 (survey)Lake: $19.40 (survey)Lauderdale: $19.40 (survey)Lawrence: $21.80 (survey)Lewis: $21.80 (survey)Lincoln: $21.80 (survey)Loudon: $20.03 (survey)McMinn: $16.12 (survey)McNairy: $19.40 (survey)Macon: $20.06 (survey)Madison: $44.94 (union)Marion: $18.00 (survey)Marshall: $21.80 (survey)Maury: $20.06 (survey)Meigs: $16.12 (survey)Monroe: $16.12 (survey)Montgomery: $21.64 (survey)Moore: $21.80 (survey)Morgan: $20.03 (survey)Obion: $19.40 (survey)Overton: $16.12 (survey)Perry: $21.80 (survey)Pickett: $16.12 (survey)Polk: $18.00 (survey)Putnam: $16.12 (survey)Rhea: $16.12 (survey)Roane: $33.43 (survey)Robertson: $20.06 (survey)Rutherford: $19.72 (survey)Scott: $16.12 (survey)Sequatchie: $18.00 (survey)Sevier: $16.12 (survey)Shelby: $44.94 (union)Smith: $20.06 (survey)Stewart: $19.40 (survey)Sullivan: $18.16 (survey)Sumner: $20.06 (survey)Tipton: $44.94 (union)Trousdale: $20.06 (survey)Unicoi: $17.72 (survey)Union: $20.03 (survey)Van Buren: $16.12 (survey)Warren: $16.12 (survey)Washington: $17.72 (survey)Wayne: $21.80 (survey)Weakley: $19.40 (survey)White: $16.12 (survey)Williamson: $19.50 (survey)Wilson: $20.06 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$19.40$20.03$21.80survey 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/hrAnderson (Knoxville): market median $24.23, prevailing (union) $46.67, gap +$22.44Anderson (Knoxville)+$22.44Chester (Jackson): market median $23.05, prevailing (union) $44.94, gap +$21.89Chester (Jackson)+$21.89Fayette (Memphis): market median $24.34, prevailing (union) $44.94, gap +$20.60Fayette (Memphis)+$20.60Hamblen (Morristown): market median $23.61, prevailing (survey) $21.78, gap −$1.83Hamblen (Morristown)−$1.83Montgomery (Clarksville): market median $23.60, prevailing (survey) $21.64, gap −$1.96Montgomery (Clarksville)−$1.96Davidson (Nashville): market median $26.81, prevailing (survey) $22.07, gap −$4.74Davidson (Nashville)−$4.74Hawkins (Kingsport): market median $23.24, prevailing (survey) $18.16, gap −$5.08Hawkins (Kingsport)−$5.08Bradley (Cleveland): market median $23.31, prevailing (survey) $18.00, gap −$5.31Bradley (Cleveland)−$5.31Carter (Johnson City): market median $23.04, prevailing (survey) $17.72, gap −$5.32Carter (Johnson City)−$5.32Hamilton (Chattanooga): market median $24.41, prevailing (survey) $18.00, gap −$6.41Hamilton (Chattanooga)−$6.41
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Tennessee.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AndersonUnion CARP0050-003 2024-05-01$29.88$16.79$46.67TN20260176
ChesterUnion CARP0345-001 2024-05-01$30.20$14.74$44.94TN20260198
CrockettUnion CARP0345-001 2024-05-01$30.20$14.74$44.94TN20260198
FayetteUnion CARP0345-001 2024-05-01$30.20$14.74$44.94TN20260200
MadisonUnion CARP0345-001 2024-05-01$30.20$14.74$44.94TN20260183
ShelbyUnion CARP0345-001 2024-05-01$30.20$14.74$44.94TN20260200
TiptonUnion CARP0345-001 2024-05-01$30.20$14.74$44.94TN20260189
RoaneSurvey SUTN2017-039 2021-04-16$24.28$9.15$33.43TN20260186
DavidsonSurvey SUTN2017-031 2021-04-16$22.07$0.00$22.07TN20260178
BedfordSurvey SUTN2017-004 2021-04-16$17.50$4.30$21.80TN20260151
CoffeeSurvey SUTN2017-004 2021-04-16$17.50$4.30$21.80TN20260151
FranklinSurvey SUTN2017-011 2021-04-16$17.50$4.30$21.80TN20260158
GilesSurvey SUTN2017-011 2021-04-16$17.50$4.30$21.80TN20260158
GrundySurvey SUTN2017-014 2021-04-16$17.50$4.30$21.80TN20260161
LawrenceSurvey SUTN2017-014 2021-04-16$17.50$4.30$21.80TN20260161

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Tennessee prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Tennessee?

169.4kConstruction jobsTennessee, 2026-09
+0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025169kSep 2026
Construction employment in Tennessee (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Tennessee

More on Tennessee

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Tennessee?

The median carpenter in Tennessee earned $24.44 an hour ($50,830 a year) in May 2025, 16% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $22.36–$28.80; the top 10% earn more than $31.95.

Where does Tennessee rank for carpenter pay?

Tennessee ranks 38th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $24.44 an hour, and 38th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Tennessee?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 7 counties, with a typical package of $44.94 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Tennessee?

BLS counted 8,200 carpenters in Tennessee in May 2025, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.58; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Tennessee?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Tennessee went from 6,160 in 2015 to 8,200 in 2025, +33.1%, and -3.4% since 2019. Tennessee's labor market agency projects +10.6% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 14,160 to 15,660 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Tennessee?

Tennessee projects about 1,210 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, Tennessee 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.