Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Wisconsin

Median $29.65 an hour for 13,880 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.65/hrMedian hourly wageWisconsin, May data
$61,660/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.69 – $44.7310th to 90th percentilehourly range
13,880Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Carpenter pay in Wisconsin: the full range

Wage percentiles, WisconsinMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWisconsin: 10th $21.69 · 25th $23.92 · median $29.65 · 75th $38.13 · 90th $44.73Wisconsin$29.65$21.69$44.73United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Wisconsin vs United States, May 2025.

Wisconsin ranks 20th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.51). 13,880 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.69 – $23.92$45,110 – $49,750roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.92 – $38.13$49,750 – $79,310the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$38.13 – $44.73$79,310 – $93,040the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Wisconsin

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrOshkosh: $40.59Oshkosh$40.59Janesville: $36.24Janesville$36.24Minneapolis: $35.61Minneapolis$35.61Milwaukee: $30.73Milwaukee$30.73Madison: $30.52Madison$30.52Sheboygan: $30.17Sheboygan$30.17Fond du Lac: $30.07Fond du Lac$30.07Appleton: $30.04Appleton$30.04Racine: $29.29Racine$29.29Duluth: $29.10Duluth$29.10Green Bay: $29.00Green Bay$29.00Kenosha: $28.90Kenosha$28.90
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Wisconsin, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Oshkosh$23.39$40.59$43.69$48.2165037% above
Janesville$19.23$36.24$38.68$47.5236022% above
Minneapolis$24.00$35.61$33.98$48.4710,20020% above
Milwaukee$22.71$30.73$31.71$45.283,3104% above
Madison$22.44$30.52$31.37$44.442,3203% above
Sheboygan$18.71$30.17$32.10$44.792302% above
Fond du Lac$21.87$30.07$32.83$47.523401% above
Appleton$21.96$30.04$32.51$46.297001% above
Racine$21.98$29.29$30.51$44.793201% below
Duluth$21.32$29.10$32.77$43.286202% below
Green Bay$20.71$29.00$31.15$40.518602% below
Kenosha$21.07$28.90$28.59$40.843103% below
Eau Claire$20.08$28.41$30.61$40.573604% below
La Crosse$22.08$28.34$30.87$40.194504% below
Wausau$19.34$24.03$25.92$37.9937019% below

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

Carpenter wages in Wisconsin over time

Wisconsin, 1999-2025WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.65Wisconsin$29.12United States
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Wisconsin vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWisconsin $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.75$30.44$15.3515,000
2000$15.29$28.59$15.6919,200
2001$16.22$29.49$16.0920,910
2002$16.63$29.76$16.4422,400
2003$16.86$29.50$16.4723,070
2004$17.35$29.57$16.7823,600
2005$17.54$28.91$17.1122,780
2006$17.59$28.09$17.5721,470
2007$18.32$28.45$18.1120,630
2008$18.43$27.56$18.7219,460
2009$18.84$28.27$18.9817,750
2010$18.90$27.90$19.0014,540
2011$20.18$28.88$19.2414,450
2012$20.28$28.44$19.2013,200
2013$20.36$28.14$19.4712,250
2014$20.99$28.54$19.6312,280
2015$21.32$28.96$20.2413,940
2016$22.08$29.62$20.9615,300
2017$22.26$29.24$21.7115,630
2018$22.89$29.35$22.4015,830
2019$23.89$30.08$23.2416,050
2020$24.47$30.44$23.8116,200
2021$23.50$27.92$23.2016,280
2022$24.53$26.98$24.7114,120
2023$28.40$30.01$27.0915,330
2024$29.04$29.80$28.5115,330
2025$29.65$29.65$29.1213,880

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Wisconsin changed by +2.4% over the last ten years of data and by -1.4% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Wisconsin?

-13.5%Jobs since 201916,050 then, 13,880 in 2025
-0.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 26th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Wisconsin has changed by -7.5%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -13.5%.

Carpenters in Wisconsin vs United States, 1999 = 100WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5010015020020002005201020152020202592Wisconsin87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Wisconsin vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWisconsin jobsWisconsin indexUS index
199915,000100100
200019,200128111
200120,910139110
200222,400149111
200323,070154110
200423,600157114
200522,780152121
200621,470143128
200720,630138126
200819,460130117
200917,75011896
201014,5409780
201114,4509675
201213,2008874
201312,2508275
201412,2808280
201513,9409383
201615,30010288
201715,63010490
201815,83010693
201916,05010795
202016,20010891
202116,28010887
202214,1209490
202315,33010291
202415,33010290
202513,8809287

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 Wisconsin

+8.0%Projected growth in Wisconsin2024–2034, state agency
1,640Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
20,030Jobs in 202421,630 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Wisconsin's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +8.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 20,030 to 21,630, with about 1,640 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 13,880 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Wisconsin

On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 71 of the 71 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $73.23 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $29.65.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WIAdams: $73.23 (union)Ashland: $73.23 (union)Barron: $73.23 (union)Bayfield: $73.23 (union)Brown: $71.42 (union)Buffalo: $73.23 (union)Burnett: $73.23 (union)Calumet: $71.42 (union)Chippewa: $71.42 (union)Clark: $73.23 (union)Columbia: $73.23 (union)Crawford: $73.23 (union)Dane: $71.23 (union)Dodge: $73.23 (union)Door: $73.23 (union)Douglas: $68.69 (union)Dunn: $73.23 (union)Eau Claire: $71.42 (union)Florence: $73.23 (union)Fond du Lac: $73.23 (union)Forest: $73.23 (union)Grant: $73.23 (union)Green: $73.23 (union)Green Lake: $73.23 (union)Iowa: $73.23 (union)Iron: $73.23 (union)Jackson: $73.23 (union)Jefferson: $73.23 (union)Juneau: $73.23 (union)Kenosha: n/aKewaunee: $73.23 (union)La Crosse: $71.42 (union)Lafayette: $73.23 (union)Langlade: $73.23 (union)Lincoln: $73.23 (union)Manitowoc: $73.23 (union)Marathon: $71.42 (union)Marinette: $73.23 (union)Marquette: $73.23 (union)Menominee: $73.23 (union)Milwaukee: $76.98 (union)Monroe: $73.23 (union)Oconto: $73.23 (union)Oneida: $73.23 (union)Outagamie: $71.42 (union)Ozaukee: $76.98 (union)Pepin: $73.23 (union)Pierce: $71.42 (union)Polk: $73.23 (union)Portage: $73.23 (union)Price: $73.23 (union)Racine: $76.98 (union)Richland: $73.23 (union)Rock: $71.23 (union)Rusk: $73.23 (union)St. Croix: $71.42 (union)Sauk: $73.23 (union)Sawyer: $73.23 (union)Shawano: $73.23 (union)Sheboygan: $71.42 (union)Taylor: $73.23 (union)Trempealeau: $73.23 (union)Vernon: $73.23 (union)Vilas: $73.23 (union)Walworth: $73.23 (union)Washburn: $73.23 (union)Washington: $76.98 (union)Waukesha: $76.98 (union)Waupaca: $73.23 (union)Waushara: $73.23 (union)Winnebago: $71.42 (union)Wood: $73.23 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$73.23n/a
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$100/hrRacine (Racine): market median $29.29, prevailing (union) $76.98, gap +$47.69Racine (Racine)+$47.69Marathon (Wausau): market median $24.03, prevailing (union) $71.42, gap +$47.39Marathon (Wausau)+$47.39Milwaukee (Milwaukee): market median $30.73, prevailing (union) $76.98, gap +$46.25Milwaukee (Milwaukee)+$46.25Vernon (La Crosse): market median $28.34, prevailing (union) $73.23, gap +$44.89Vernon (La Crosse)+$44.89Kewaunee (Green Bay): market median $29.00, prevailing (union) $73.23, gap +$44.23Kewaunee (Green Bay)+$44.23Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac): market median $30.07, prevailing (union) $73.23, gap +$43.16Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac)+$43.16Chippewa (Eau Claire): market median $28.41, prevailing (union) $71.42, gap +$43.01Chippewa (Eau Claire)+$43.01Columbia (Madison): market median $30.52, prevailing (union) $73.23, gap +$42.71Columbia (Madison)+$42.71Calumet (Appleton): market median $30.04, prevailing (union) $71.42, gap +$41.38Calumet (Appleton)+$41.38Sheboygan (Sheboygan): market median $30.17, prevailing (union) $71.42, gap +$41.25Sheboygan (Sheboygan)+$41.25Douglas (Duluth): market median $29.10, prevailing (union) $68.69, gap +$39.59Douglas (Duluth)+$39.59Pierce (Minneapolis): market median $35.61, prevailing (union) $71.42, gap +$35.81Pierce (Minneapolis)+$35.81Rock (Janesville): market median $36.24, prevailing (union) $71.23, gap +$34.99Rock (Janesville)+$34.99Winnebago (Oshkosh): market median $40.59, prevailing (union) $71.42, gap +$30.83Winnebago (Oshkosh)+$30.83
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Wisconsin.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
MilwaukeeUnion CARP0231-001 2025-06-01$45.46$31.52$76.98WI20260001
OzaukeeUnion CARP0231-001 2025-06-01$45.46$31.52$76.98WI20260001
RacineUnion CARP0231-001 2025-06-01$45.46$31.52$76.98WI20260009
WashingtonUnion CARP0231-001 2025-06-01$45.46$31.52$76.98WI20260001
WaukeshaUnion CARP0231-001 2025-06-01$45.46$31.52$76.98WI20260001
AdamsUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
AshlandUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
BarronUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
BayfieldUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
BuffaloUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
BurnettUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
ClarkUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
ColumbiaUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
CrawfordUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011
DodgeUnion CARP0314-006 2025-06-02$44.45$28.78$73.23WI20260011

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

Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?

160.1kConstruction jobsWisconsin, 2026-09
+5.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025160kSep 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Wisconsin

More on Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Wisconsin?

The median carpenter in Wisconsin earned $29.65 an hour ($61,660 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $23.92–$38.13; the top 10% earn more than $44.73.

Where does Wisconsin rank for carpenter pay?

Wisconsin ranks 20th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $29.65 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 71 counties, with a typical package of $73.23 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Wisconsin?

BLS counted 13,880 carpenters in Wisconsin in May 2025, 4.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.09; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Wisconsin?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Wisconsin went from 13,940 in 2015 to 13,880 in 2025, -0.4%, and -13.5% since 2019. Wisconsin's labor market agency projects +8.0% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 20,030 to 21,630 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin projects about 1,640 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, Wisconsin 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: Wisconsin labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.