Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in West Virginia

Median $23.42 an hour for 3,670 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.42/hrMedian hourly wageWest Virginia, May data
$48,710/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.26 – $33.6910th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,670Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in West Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, West VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWest Virginia: 10th $17.26 · 25th $18.36 · median $23.42 · 75th $28.94 · 90th $33.69West Virginia$23.42$17.26$33.69United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: West Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

West Virginia ranks 46th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 42nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.17). 3,670 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.26 – $18.36$35,900 – $38,180roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$18.36 – $28.94$38,180 – $60,190the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.94 – $33.69$60,190 – $70,060the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in West Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $29.23Washington DC$29.23Weirton: $28.00Weirton$28.00Hagerstown: $27.21Hagerstown$27.21Huntington: $25.00Huntington$25.00Winchester: $24.12Winchester$24.12Wheeling: $24.10Wheeling$24.10Morgantown: $23.64Morgantown$23.64Charleston: $23.59Charleston$23.59Beckley: $23.08Beckley$23.08Parkersburg: $22.64Parkersburg$22.64
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in West Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$22.67$29.23$26.84$43.5613,28025% above
Weirton$18.35$28.00$31.46$36.3516020% above
Hagerstown$18.46$27.21$28.89$33.9235016% above
Huntington$17.24$25.00$28.28$33.907807% above
Winchester$18.41$24.12$24.99$35.922703% above
Wheeling$17.91$24.10$27.29$33.921903% above
Morgantown$17.51$23.64$25.34$33.994501% above
Charleston$16.31$23.59$26.60$34.233701% above
Beckley$15.96$23.08$26.11$33.192501% below
Parkersburg$17.17$22.64$25.99$31.711703% below

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

Carpenter wages in West Virginia over time

West Virginia, 1999-2025West VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$23.42West Virginia
Median hourly wage for carpenters, West Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWest Virginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.95$25.02$15.353,500
2000$10.65$19.91$15.694,770
2001$11.98$21.78$16.094,700
2002$11.75$21.03$16.444,960
2003$11.60$20.30$16.475,450
2004$12.81$21.83$16.785,590
2005$13.45$22.17$17.116,380
2006$14.06$22.45$17.576,450
2007$14.79$22.96$18.116,070
2008$15.23$22.77$18.725,530
2009$15.46$23.20$18.984,530
2010$15.00$22.15$19.004,220
2011$15.46$22.13$19.243,680
2012$15.17$21.27$19.203,690
2013$16.56$22.89$19.473,340
2014$17.09$23.24$19.633,210
2015$17.96$24.40$20.243,220
2016$18.56$24.90$20.962,890
2017$18.57$24.39$21.712,620
2018$19.30$24.74$22.402,640
2019$20.06$25.26$23.242,820
2020$20.59$25.61$23.812,490
2021$18.42$21.89$23.202,850
2022$21.18$23.30$24.713,790
2023$22.10$23.35$27.092,820
2024$22.75$23.35$28.512,910
2025$23.42$23.42$29.123,670

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in West Virginia changed by -4.0% over the last ten years of data and by -7.3% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in West Virginia?

+30.1%Jobs since 20192,820 then, 3,670 in 2025
+14.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 17th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in West Virginia has changed by +4.9%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +30.1%.

Carpenters in West Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100West VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025105West Virginia87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, West Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWest Virginia jobsWest Virginia indexUS index
19993,500100100
20004,770136111
20014,700134110
20024,960142111
20035,450156110
20045,590160114
20056,380182121
20066,450184128
20076,070173126
20085,530158117
20094,53012996
20104,22012180
20113,68010575
20123,69010574
20133,3409575
20143,2109280
20153,2209283
20162,8908388
20172,6207590
20182,6407593
20192,8208195
20202,4907191
20212,8508187
20223,79010890
20232,8208191
20242,9108390
20253,67010587

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 West Virginia

+17.4%Projected growth in West Virginia2024–2034, state agency
450Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
4,740Jobs in 20245,560 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

West Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +17.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,740 to 5,560, with about 450 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,670 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: West Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections.

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in West Virginia

On federally funded construction in West Virginia, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 55 of the 55 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $56.56 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $23.42.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WVBarbour: $51.15 (union)Berkeley: $49.65 (union)Boone: $59.35 (union)Braxton: $59.55 (union)Brooke: $56.56 (union)Cabell: $61.14 (union)Calhoun: $51.15 (union)Clay: $59.35 (union)Doddridge: $59.55 (union)Fayette: $59.35 (union)Gilmer: $59.55 (union)Grant: $49.65 (union)Greenbrier: $59.35 (union)Hampshire: $49.65 (union)Hancock: $56.56 (union)Hardy: $51.15 (union)Harrison: $59.55 (union)Jackson: $51.15 (union)Jefferson: $49.65 (union)Kanawha: $59.35 (union)Lewis: $59.55 (union)Lincoln: $59.35 (union)Logan: $51.15 (union)McDowell: $59.35 (union)Marion: $59.55 (union)Marshall: $56.56 (union)Mason: $59.35 (union)Mercer: $51.15 (union)Mineral: $49.65 (union)Mingo: $51.15 (union)Monongalia: $56.56 (union)Monroe: $59.35 (union)Morgan: $49.65 (union)Nicholas: $59.35 (union)Ohio: $56.56 (union)Pendleton: $51.15 (union)Pleasants: $59.55 (union)Pocahontas: $59.55 (union)Preston: $43.15 (union)Putnam: $59.35 (union)Raleigh: $59.35 (union)Randolph: $51.15 (union)Ritchie: $51.15 (union)Roane: $51.15 (union)Summers: $51.15 (union)Taylor: $59.55 (union)Tucker: $51.15 (union)Tyler: $59.55 (union)Upshur: $51.15 (union)Wayne: $61.14 (union)Webster: $51.15 (union)Wetzel: $59.55 (union)Wirt: $59.55 (union)Wood: $59.55 (union)Wyoming: $51.15 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$51.15$59.35$59.55
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)$0$20$40$60$80/hrWirt (Parkersburg): market median $22.64, prevailing (union) $59.55, gap +$36.91Wirt (Parkersburg)+$36.91Fayette (Beckley): market median $23.08, prevailing (union) $59.35, gap +$36.27Fayette (Beckley)+$36.27Cabell (Huntington): market median $25.00, prevailing (union) $61.14, gap +$36.14Cabell (Huntington)+$36.14Boone (Charleston): market median $23.59, prevailing (union) $59.35, gap +$35.76Boone (Charleston)+$35.76Monongalia (Morgantown): market median $23.64, prevailing (union) $56.56, gap +$32.92Monongalia (Morgantown)+$32.92Marshall (Wheeling): market median $24.10, prevailing (union) $56.56, gap +$32.46Marshall (Wheeling)+$32.46Brooke (Weirton): market median $28.00, prevailing (union) $56.56, gap +$28.56Brooke (Weirton)+$28.56Hampshire (Winchester): market median $24.12, prevailing (union) $49.65, gap +$25.53Hampshire (Winchester)+$25.53Berkeley (Hagerstown): market median $27.21, prevailing (union) $49.65, gap +$22.44Berkeley (Hagerstown)+$22.44Jefferson (Washington DC): market median $29.23, prevailing (union) $49.65, gap +$20.42Jefferson (Washington DC)+$20.42
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in West Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
CabellUnion CARP0439-006 2024-06-01$33.80$27.34$61.14WV20260035
WayneUnion CARP0439-006 2024-06-01$33.80$27.34$61.14WV20260048
BraxtonUnion CARP0436-009 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260004
DoddridgeUnion CARP0436-001 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260005
GilmerUnion CARP0436-011 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260007
HarrisonUnion CARP0436-001 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260011
LewisUnion CARP0436-011 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260013
MarionUnion CARP0436-003 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260015
PleasantsUnion CARP0436-006 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260045
PocahontasUnion CARP0436-007 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260022
TaylorUnion CARP0436-001 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260027
TylerUnion CARP0436-001 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260029
WetzelUnion CARP0436-001 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260032
WirtUnion CARP0436-006 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260051
WoodUnion CARP0436-006 2024-12-01$33.05$26.50$59.55WV20260051

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

Is construction work growing in West Virginia?

35.2kConstruction jobsWest Virginia, 2026-09
-5.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k30k40k50k60k1990199520002005201020152020202535kSep 2026
Construction employment in West Virginia (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in West Virginia

More on West Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in West Virginia?

The median carpenter in West Virginia earned $23.42 an hour ($48,710 a year) in May 2025, 20% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $18.36–$28.94; the top 10% earn more than $33.69.

Where does West Virginia rank for carpenter pay?

West Virginia ranks 46th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $23.42 an hour, and 42nd after adjusting for West Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 89.5, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in West Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 55 counties, with a typical package of $56.56 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in West Virginia?

BLS counted 3,670 carpenters in West Virginia in May 2025, 5.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.21; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in West Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in West Virginia went from 3,220 in 2015 to 3,670 in 2025, +14.0%, and +30.1% since 2019. West Virginia's labor market agency projects +17.4% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 4,740 to 5,560 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in West Virginia?

West Virginia projects about 450 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, West 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: West Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.