Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Virginia

Median $26.77 an hour for 20,460 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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 2026-11-13

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. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.38 – $22.34$38,230 – $46,460roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.34 – $29.49$46,460 – $61,340the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.49 – $35.70$61,340 – $74,250the 75th to 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 $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$22.67$29.23$26.84$43.5613,2809% above
Charlottesville$19.29$26.97$27.21$35.006301% above
Richmond$18.27$24.94$25.47$33.483,0707% below
Virginia Beach$18.72$24.76$25.29$35.324,0208% below
Winchester$18.41$24.12$24.99$35.9227010% below
Harrisonburg$18.59$23.87$25.15$36.1938011% below
Staunton$18.39$23.37$25.65$35.5729013% below
Kingsport$17.46$23.24$26.90$30.9039013% below
Lynchburg$17.65$23.21$25.96$30.4948013% below
Blacksburg$17.14$22.87$24.67$30.7734015% below
Roanoke$15.52$22.62$24.17$29.9683016% below

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

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 and by +2.5% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Virginia?

+8.1%Jobs since 201918,930 then, 20,460 in 2025
+14.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 23rd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Virginia has changed by +11.3%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +8.1%.

Carpenters in Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025111Virginia87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearVirginia jobsVirginia indexUS index
199918,380100100
200022,210121111
200124,110131110
200224,080131111
200325,810140110
200427,150148114
200527,850152121
200630,810168128
200729,200159126
200826,960147117
200921,25011696
201018,39010080
201116,8609275
201215,7708674
201316,7209175
201417,4209580
201517,8509783
201616,8909288
201716,6709190
201817,3109493
201918,93010395
202019,58010691
202116,3308987
202216,3608990
202317,5809691
202418,34010090
202520,46011187

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 Virginia

+6.5%Projected growth in Virginia2024–2034, state agency
2,280Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
25,060Jobs in 202426,680 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +6.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 25,060 to 26,680, with about 2,280 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 20,460 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

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. 4 of the 131 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). 127 of the 131 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: $28.56 (survey)Bristol: $14.68 (survey)Buena Vista: $18.32 (survey)Charlottesville: $17.00 (survey)Chesapeake: $18.56 (survey)Colonial Heights: $22.21 (survey)Covington: n/aDanville: $15.60 (survey)Emporia: $15.60 (survey)Fairfax: $28.38 (survey)Falls Church: $28.38 (survey)Franklin: $15.60 (survey)Fredericksburg: $29.12 (survey)Galax: $17.26 (survey)Hampton: $18.50 (survey)Harrisonburg: $17.00 (survey)Hopewell: $22.21 (survey)Lexington: n/aLynchburg: $17.00 (survey)Manassas: $50.33 (union)Manassas Park: $50.33 (union)Martinsville: $17.26 (survey)Newport News: $23.03 (survey)Norfolk: $23.78 (survey)Norton: $17.26 (survey)Petersburg: $22.21 (survey)Poquoson: $18.56 (survey)Portsmouth: $17.00 (survey)Radford: $17.00 (survey)Richmond: $22.21 (survey)Roanoke: $14.59 (survey)Salem: $14.59 (survey)Staunton: $17.00 (survey)Suffolk: $18.56 (survey)Virginia Beach: $22.34 (survey)Waynesboro: $17.00 (survey)Williamsburg: $18.56 (survey)Winchester: $29.12 (survey)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
ManassasUnion CARP0197-012 2025-05-01$35.89$14.44$50.33VA20260162
Manassas ParkUnion 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
FredericksburgSurvey SUVA2013-050 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260165
WinchesterSurvey SUVA2013-036 2016-01-11$23.89$5.23$29.12VA20260021
ArlingtonSurvey SUVA2013-025 2016-01-11$23.36$5.20$28.56VA20260013
AlexandriaSurvey SUVA2013-025 2016-01-11$23.36$5.20$28.56VA20260013

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. 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?

230.8kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-09
-1.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kSep 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

More on 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 4 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).

Is carpenter work growing in Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Virginia went from 17,850 in 2015 to 20,460 in 2025, +14.6%, and +8.1% since 2019. Virginia's labor market agency projects +6.5% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 25,060 to 26,680 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Virginia?

Virginia projects about 2,280 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, Virginia 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: Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.