Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Texas

Median $23.51 an hour for 33,540 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.51/hrMedian hourly wageTexas, May data
$48,900/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.78 – $31.6910th to 90th percentilehourly range
33,540Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Texas: the full range

Wage percentiles, TexasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrTexas: 10th $17.78 · 25th $21.48 · median $23.51 · 75th $27.78 · 90th $31.69Texas$23.51$17.78$31.69United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Texas vs United States, May 2025.

Texas ranks 45th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 50th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.21). 33,540 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$17.78 – $21.48$36,980 – $44,690roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.48 – $27.78$44,690 – $57,780the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.78 – $31.69$57,780 – $65,920the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Texas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrMidland: $29.24Midland$29.24Beaumont: $28.02Beaumont$28.02Odessa: $25.12Odessa$25.12Austin: $24.16Austin$24.16Houston: $23.88Houston$23.88Victoria: $23.78Victoria$23.78San Antonio: $23.51San Antonio$23.51Dallas-Fort Worth: $23.44Dallas-Fort Worth$23.44Amarillo: $22.97Amarillo$22.97Sherman: $22.95Sherman$22.95Killeen: $22.87Killeen$22.87Waco: $22.76Waco$22.76
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Texas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Midland$21.68$29.24$30.52$36.7417024% above
Beaumont$21.51$28.02$31.13$34.661,00019% above
Odessa$19.87$25.12$26.75$29.801807% above
Austin$19.04$24.16$24.63$33.752,5403% above
Houston$18.98$23.88$24.22$32.939,6002% above
Victoria$18.03$23.78$26.48$28.37301% above
San Antonio$18.00$23.51$24.83$28.632,240about the same as
Dallas-Fort Worth$17.52$23.44$22.74$30.719,480about the same as
Amarillo$15.09$22.97$25.02$29.913502% below
Sherman$15.42$22.95$24.47$34.901602% below
Killeen$17.71$22.87$25.10$29.792703% below
Waco$16.67$22.76$24.61$30.094203% below
Corpus Christi$21.41$22.69$24.48$29.031,2503% below
College Station$17.72$22.58$24.81$29.991704% below
Longview$17.29$22.19$24.79$29.413706% below
Tyler$16.23$21.26$23.06$26.9614010% below
Lubbock$14.74$20.91$22.90$28.8328011% below
Abilene$15.18$20.69$22.89$30.288012% below
Texarkana$14.41$20.51$24.42$30.479013% below
El Paso$16.08$20.40$22.69$28.1162013% below
San Angelo$14.81$20.00$21.62$29.296015% below
Laredo$15.25$19.97$22.95$26.5210015% below
McAllen$14.03$19.97$23.25$26.3631015% below
Wichita Falls$14.61$18.57$20.75$29.238021% below
Brownsville$10.86$17.13$19.92$26.9625027% below

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

Carpenter wages in Texas over time

Texas, 1999-2025TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$23.51Texas
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Texas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTexas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.21$23.59$15.3536,610
2000$12.68$23.71$15.6941,600
2001$12.88$23.41$16.0943,140
2002$13.32$23.84$16.4439,600
2003$13.56$23.73$16.4736,280
2004$13.14$22.39$16.7834,250
2005$13.37$22.04$17.1134,190
2006$13.75$21.96$17.5735,380
2007$14.35$22.28$18.1135,790
2008$14.56$21.77$18.7238,190
2009$14.68$22.03$18.9834,000
2010$14.76$21.79$19.0030,820
2011$15.01$21.48$19.2430,120
2012$15.15$21.24$19.2032,020
2013$15.32$21.17$19.4732,500
2014$15.79$21.47$19.6334,670
2015$16.60$22.55$20.2435,750
2016$17.27$23.17$20.9636,870
2017$18.07$23.73$21.7137,520
2018$18.62$23.87$22.4038,530
2019$19.36$24.38$23.2441,230
2020$20.04$24.93$23.8138,270
2021$21.49$25.53$23.2033,510
2022$22.25$24.48$24.7133,830
2023$22.94$24.24$27.0934,970
2024$23.15$23.76$28.5134,400
2025$23.51$23.51$29.1233,540

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Texas changed by +4.3% over the last ten years of data and by -3.6% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Texas?

-18.7%Jobs since 201941,230 then, 33,540 in 2025
-6.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.6× the US share, 48th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Texas has changed by -8.4%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -18.7%.

Carpenters in Texas vs United States, 1999 = 100TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages608010012014020002005201020152020202592Texas87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Texas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTexas jobsTexas indexUS index
199936,610100100
200041,600114111
200143,140118110
200239,600108111
200336,28099110
200434,25094114
200534,19093121
200635,38097128
200735,79098126
200838,190104117
200934,0009396
201030,8208480
201130,1208275
201232,0208874
201332,5008975
201434,6709580
201535,7509883
201636,87010188
201737,52010290
201838,53010593
201941,23011395
202038,27010491
202133,5109287
202233,8309290
202334,9709691
202434,4009490
202533,5409287

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 Texas

+8.4%Projected growth in Texas2024–2034, state agency
3,840Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
46,540Jobs in 202450,440 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Texas's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +8.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 46,540 to 50,440, with about 3,840 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 33,540 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Texas

On federally funded construction in Texas, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 41 of the 254 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $37.87 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $14.30). 213 of the 254 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Anderson County at $17.76). The market median for the state is $23.51.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TXUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$13.13$13.85$16.62$20.61survey 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/hrAustin (Houston): market median $23.88, prevailing (union) $43.00, gap +$19.12Austin (Houston)+$19.12Bastrop (Austin): market median $24.16, prevailing (union) $41.36, gap +$17.20Bastrop (Austin)+$17.20Crosby (Lubbock): market median $20.91, prevailing (union) $37.87, gap +$16.96Crosby (Lubbock)+$16.96Armstrong (Amarillo): market median $22.97, prevailing (union) $37.87, gap +$14.90Armstrong (Amarillo)+$14.90Gregg (Longview): market median $22.19, prevailing (survey) $25.00, gap +$2.81Gregg (Longview)+$2.81Cameron (Brownsville): market median $17.13, prevailing (survey) $16.00, gap −$1.13Cameron (Brownsville)−$1.13Bexar (San Antonio): market median $23.51, prevailing (survey) $21.03, gap −$2.48Bexar (San Antonio)−$2.48Bowie (Texarkana): market median $20.51, prevailing (survey) $17.23, gap −$3.28Bowie (Texarkana)−$3.28Dallas (Dallas-Fort Worth): market median $23.44, prevailing (survey) $20.10, gap −$3.34Dallas (Dallas-Fort Worth)−$3.34Webb (Laredo): market median $19.97, prevailing (survey) $16.57, gap −$3.40Webb (Laredo)−$3.40Coryell (Killeen): market median $22.87, prevailing (survey) $19.34, gap −$3.53Coryell (Killeen)−$3.53Hidalgo (McAllen): market median $19.97, prevailing (survey) $16.43, gap −$3.54Hidalgo (McAllen)−$3.54El Paso (El Paso): market median $20.40, prevailing (survey) $16.80, gap −$3.60El Paso (El Paso)−$3.60Smith (Tyler): market median $21.26, prevailing (survey) $16.39, gap −$4.87Smith (Tyler)−$4.87Falls (Waco): market median $22.76, prevailing (survey) $17.76, gap −$5.00Falls (Waco)−$5.00Maverick (Texas): market median $23.51, prevailing (survey) $18.00, gap −$5.51Maverick (Texas)−$5.51Jefferson (Beaumont): market median $28.02, prevailing (survey) $21.70, gap −$6.32Jefferson (Beaumont)−$6.32Robertson (College Station): market median $22.58, prevailing (survey) $15.50, gap −$7.08Robertson (College Station)−$7.08Grayson (Sherman): market median $22.95, prevailing (survey) $15.81, gap −$7.14Grayson (Sherman)−$7.14Aransas (Corpus Christi): market median $22.69, prevailing (survey) $15.21, gap −$7.48Aransas (Corpus Christi)−$7.48
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Texas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AustinUnion CARP0551-008 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260229
BrazoriaUnion CARP0551-009 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260233
ChambersUnion CARP0551-008 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260238
Fort BendUnion CARP0551-008 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260247
GalvestonUnion CARP0551-011 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260248
HarrisUnion CARP0551-008 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260253
LibertyUnion CARP0551-010 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260259
San JacintoUnion CARP0551-008 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260268
WallerUnion CARP0551-008 2025-04-01$33.27$9.73$43.00TX20260272
BastropUnion CARP1266-002 2025-06-01$31.80$9.56$41.36TX20260285
CaldwellUnion CARP1266-002 2025-06-01$31.80$9.56$41.36TX20260286
TravisUnion CARP1266-002 2025-06-01$31.80$9.56$41.36TX20260271
WilliamsonUnion CARP1266-002 2025-06-01$31.80$9.56$41.36TX20260275
CastroUnion CARP0429-002 2025-05-01$29.16$9.68$38.84TX20260196
ChildressUnion CARP0429-002 2025-05-01$29.16$9.68$38.84TX20260196

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

Is construction work growing in Texas?

924.5kConstruction jobsTexas, 2026-09
+1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k19901995200020052010201520202025924kSep 2026
Construction employment in Texas (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Texas

More on Texas

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Texas?

The median carpenter in Texas earned $23.51 an hour ($48,900 a year) in May 2025, 19% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $21.48–$27.78; the top 10% earn more than $31.69.

Where does Texas rank for carpenter pay?

Texas ranks 45th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $23.51 an hour, and 50th after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Texas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 41 counties, with a typical package of $37.87 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Texas?

BLS counted 33,540 carpenters in Texas in May 2025, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.55; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Texas?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Texas went from 35,750 in 2015 to 33,540 in 2025, -6.2%, and -18.7% since 2019. Texas's labor market agency projects +8.4% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 46,540 to 50,440 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Texas?

Texas projects about 3,840 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, Texas 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: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.