Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Virginia

Median $26.77 an hour for 20,460 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$26.77/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$55,690/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.38 – $35.7010th to 90th percentilehourly range
20,460Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Carpenter pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrVirginia: 10th $18.38 · 25th $22.34 · median $26.77 · 75th $29.49 · 90th $35.70Virginia$26.77$18.38$35.70United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 34th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 39th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.48). 20,460 carpenters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.38 – $22.34$38,230 – $46,460roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$22.34 – $29.49$46,460 – $61,340the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$29.49 – $35.70$61,340 – $74,250the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $29.23Washington DC$29.23Charlottesville: $26.97Charlottesville$26.97Richmond: $24.94Richmond$24.94Virginia Beach: $24.76Virginia Beach$24.76Winchester: $24.12Winchester$24.12Harrisonburg: $23.87Harrisonburg$23.87Staunton: $23.37Staunton$23.37Kingsport: $23.24Kingsport$23.24Lynchburg: $23.21Lynchburg$23.21Blacksburg: $22.87Blacksburg$22.87Roanoke: $22.62Roanoke$22.62
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$22.67$29.23$43.5613,2809% above
Charlottesville$19.29$26.97$35.006301% above
Richmond$18.27$24.94$33.483,0707% below
Virginia Beach$18.72$24.76$35.324,0208% below
Winchester$18.41$24.12$35.9227010% below
Harrisonburg$18.59$23.87$36.1938011% below
Staunton$18.39$23.37$35.5729013% below
Kingsport$17.46$23.24$30.9039013% below
Lynchburg$17.65$23.21$30.4948013% below
Blacksburg$17.14$22.87$30.7734015% below
Roanoke$15.52$22.62$29.9683016% below

Carpenter wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$26.77Virginia
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.97$25.06$15.3518,380
2000$13.41$25.07$15.6922,210
2001$13.95$25.36$16.0924,110
2002$14.21$25.43$16.4424,080
2003$14.37$25.14$16.4725,810
2004$15.13$25.79$16.7827,150
2005$16.11$26.56$17.1127,850
2006$16.39$26.17$17.5730,810
2007$16.77$26.04$18.1129,200
2008$17.40$26.02$18.7226,960
2009$17.89$26.85$18.9821,250
2010$17.96$26.52$19.0018,390
2011$17.86$25.56$19.2416,860
2012$17.62$24.71$19.2015,770
2013$18.05$24.94$19.4716,720
2014$18.30$24.89$19.6317,420
2015$18.66$25.35$20.2417,850
2016$19.25$25.82$20.9616,890
2017$19.87$26.10$21.7116,670
2018$20.23$25.94$22.4017,310
2019$20.73$26.10$23.2418,930
2020$21.48$26.72$23.8119,580
2021$22.48$26.71$23.2016,330
2022$23.32$25.65$24.7116,360
2023$23.43$24.76$27.0917,580
2024$24.15$24.79$28.5118,340
2025$26.77$26.77$29.1220,460

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Virginia changed by +5.6% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 2 of the 102 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $50.33 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $17.26). 100 of the 102 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Accomack County at $16.96). The market median for the state is $26.77.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: $16.96 (survey)Albemarle: $17.00 (survey)Alleghany: $18.32 (survey)Amelia: $22.21 (survey)Amherst: $17.00 (survey)Appomattox: $17.00 (survey)Arlington: $28.56 (survey)Augusta: $17.00 (survey)Bath: $18.32 (survey)Bedford: $17.00 (survey)Bland: $17.26 (survey)Botetourt: $14.59 (survey)Brunswick: $15.60 (survey)Buchanan: $17.26 (survey)Buckingham: $17.00 (survey)Campbell: $17.00 (survey)Caroline: $22.21 (survey)Carroll: $17.26 (survey)Charles City: $22.21 (survey)Charlotte: $15.60 (survey)Chesterfield: $22.21 (survey)Clarke: $29.12 (survey)Craig: $14.59 (survey)Culpeper: $29.12 (survey)Cumberland: $15.60 (survey)Dickenson: $17.26 (survey)Dinwiddie: $22.21 (survey)Essex: $16.96 (survey)Fairfax: $28.38 (survey)Fauquier: $29.12 (survey)Floyd: $17.00 (survey)Fluvanna: $17.00 (survey)Franklin: $14.59 (survey)Frederick: $29.12 (survey)Giles: $17.00 (survey)Gloucester: $18.56 (survey)Goochland: $22.21 (survey)Grayson: $17.26 (survey)Greene: $17.00 (survey)Greensville: $15.60 (survey)Halifax: $15.60 (survey)Hanover: $22.21 (survey)Henrico: $22.21 (survey)Henry: $17.26 (survey)Highland: $18.32 (survey)Isle of Wight: $18.56 (survey)James City: $18.56 (survey)King and Queen: $16.96 (survey)King George: $16.96 (survey)King William: $22.21 (survey)Lancaster: $16.96 (survey)Lee: $17.26 (survey)Loudoun: $50.33 (union)Louisa: $18.32 (survey)Lunenburg: $15.60 (survey)Madison: $18.32 (survey)Mathews: $18.56 (survey)Mecklenburg: $15.60 (survey)Middlesex: $16.96 (survey)Montgomery: $17.00 (survey)Nelson: $17.00 (survey)New Kent: $22.21 (survey)Northampton: $16.96 (survey)Northumberland: $16.96 (survey)Nottoway: $15.60 (survey)Orange: $18.32 (survey)Page: $18.32 (survey)Patrick: $17.26 (survey)Pittsylvania: $15.60 (survey)Powhatan: $22.21 (survey)Prince Edward: $15.60 (survey)Prince George: $22.21 (survey)Prince William: $50.33 (union)Pulaski: $17.00 (survey)Rappahannock: $29.12 (survey)Richmond: $16.96 (survey)Roanoke: $14.59 (survey)Rockbridge: $18.32 (survey)Rockingham: $17.00 (survey)Russell: $17.26 (survey)Scott: $14.68 (survey)Shenandoah: $18.32 (survey)Smyth: $17.26 (survey)Southampton: $15.60 (survey)Spotsylvania: $29.12 (survey)Stafford: $29.12 (survey)Surry: $15.60 (survey)Sussex: $22.21 (survey)Tazewell: $17.26 (survey)Warren: $15.69 (survey)Washington: $14.68 (survey)Westmoreland: $16.96 (survey)Wise: $17.26 (survey)Wythe: $17.26 (survey)York: $18.56 (survey)Alexandria: —Bristol: —Buena Vista: —Charlottesville: —Chesapeake: $18.56 (survey)Colonial Heights: —Covington: —Danville: —Emporia: —Fairfax: —Falls Church: —Franklin: —Fredericksburg: —Galax: —Hampton: $18.50 (survey)Harrisonburg: —Hopewell: —Lexington: —Lynchburg: —Manassas: —Manassas Park: —Martinsville: —Newport News: $23.03 (survey)Norfolk: $23.78 (survey)Norton: —Petersburg: —Poquoson: —Portsmouth: $17.00 (survey)Radford: —Richmond: —Roanoke: —Salem: —Staunton: —Suffolk: $18.56 (survey)Virginia Beach: $22.34 (survey)Waynesboro: —Williamsburg: —Winchester: —Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.96$17.00$18.32$22.21n/asurvey 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)$0$20$40$60/hrLoudoun (Washington DC): market median $29.23, prevailing (union) $50.33, gap +$21.10Loudoun (Washington DC)+$21.10Frederick (Winchester): market median $24.12, prevailing (survey) $29.12, gap +$5.00Frederick (Winchester)+$5.00Norfolk (Virginia Beach): market median $24.76, prevailing (survey) $23.78, gap −$0.98Norfolk (Virginia Beach)−$0.98Amelia (Richmond): market median $24.94, prevailing (survey) $22.21, gap −$2.73Amelia (Richmond)−$2.73Floyd (Blacksburg): market median $22.87, prevailing (survey) $17.00, gap −$5.87Floyd (Blacksburg)−$5.87Amherst (Lynchburg): market median $23.21, prevailing (survey) $17.00, gap −$6.21Amherst (Lynchburg)−$6.21Augusta (Staunton): market median $23.37, prevailing (survey) $17.00, gap −$6.37Augusta (Staunton)−$6.37Rockingham (Harrisonburg): market median $23.87, prevailing (survey) $17.00, gap −$6.87Rockingham (Harrisonburg)−$6.87Botetourt (Roanoke): market median $22.62, prevailing (survey) $14.59, gap −$8.03Botetourt (Roanoke)−$8.03Scott (Kingsport): market median $23.24, prevailing (survey) $14.68, gap −$8.56Scott (Kingsport)−$8.56Albemarle (Charlottesville): market median $26.97, prevailing (survey) $17.00, gap −$9.97Albemarle (Charlottesville)−$9.97
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
LoudounUnion CARP0197-012 2025-05-01$35.89$14.44$50.33VA20260158
Prince WilliamUnion CARP0197-012 2025-05-01$35.89$14.44$50.33VA20260162
ClarkeSurvey SUVA2013-032 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260018
CulpeperSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260174
FauquierSurvey SUVA2013-035 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260020
FrederickSurvey SUVA2013-036 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260021
RappahannockSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260174
SpotsylvaniaSurvey SUVA2013-050 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260165
StaffordSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260174
ArlingtonSurvey SUVA2013-025 2016-01-11$23.36$5.20$28.56VA20260013
FairfaxSurvey SUVA2013-034 2016-01-11$23.34$5.04$28.38VA20260178
NorfolkSurvey SUVA2013-043 2016-01-11$19.80$3.98$23.78VA20260160
Newport NewsSurvey SUVA2013-042 2016-01-11$20.26$2.77$23.03VA20260159
Virginia BeachSurvey SUVA2013-052 2016-01-11$17.93$4.41$22.34VA20260167
AmeliaSurvey SUVA2013-056 2016-01-11$21.10$1.11$22.21VA20260170

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Virginia prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

231.3kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-08
-1.4%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kAug 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Virginia?

The median carpenter in Virginia earned $26.77 an hour ($55,690 a year) in May 2025, 8% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $22.34–$29.49; the top 10% earn more than $35.70.

Where does Virginia rank for carpenter pay?

Virginia ranks 34th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $26.77 an hour, and 39th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 2 counties, with a typical package of $50.33 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Virginia?

BLS counted 20,460 carpenters in Virginia in May 2025, 5.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.16; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Virginia and metro areas, SOC 47-2031.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.