Carpenter salary in the U.S.
Carpenters in the U.S. earn a median of $60,580 a year ($29.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 670,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,910 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $65,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for carpenters in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| 25th percentile | $48,510 | $23.32 |
| Median | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| 75th percentile | $76,830 | $36.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,910 | $48.03 |
| Average (mean) | $65,630 | $31.55 |
Half of carpenters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,048.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,524.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,330 |
| Weekly | $1,165 |
| Hourly | $29.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Carpenter salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 | 4,810 |
| Illinois | $79,000 | 19,570 |
| California | $75,920 | 100,750 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | 18,540 |
| Washington | $74,190 | 26,960 |
| Alaska | $73,860 | 2,560 |
| New York | $72,330 | 40,630 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 | 14,930 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 | 5,160 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 | 14,230 |
| Maryland | $62,960 | 9,770 |
| Indiana | $62,870 | 15,240 |
| Oregon | $62,870 | 15,110 |
| Colorado | $62,830 | 12,740 |
| Vermont | $62,400 | 3,080 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | 12,700 |
| Maine | $62,160 | 5,170 |
| District of Columbia | $61,710 | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $61,680 | 18,590 |
| Wisconsin | $61,660 | 13,880 |
| New Hampshire | $61,200 | 3,760 |
| Missouri | $60,840 | 14,410 |
| Rhode Island | $60,840 | 2,580 |
| Ohio | $60,810 | 18,450 |
| New Mexico | $59,720 | 3,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,370 | 30,630 |
| Delaware | $59,200 | 2,250 |
| Montana | $58,820 | 4,030 |
| Arizona | $58,580 | 16,230 |
| North Dakota | $57,890 | 2,360 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | 5,770 |
| Kansas | $56,960 | 5,210 |
| Wyoming | $56,850 | 2,260 |
| Virginia | $55,690 | 20,460 |
| Kentucky | $52,680 | 8,540 |
| Utah | $52,360 | 15,220 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | 8,380 |
| Virgin Islands | $51,730 | 270 |
| Tennessee | $50,830 | 8,200 |
| South Carolina | $50,670 | 6,950 |
| Nebraska | $50,320 | 5,710 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 | 8,990 |
| Florida | $49,870 | 39,300 |
| Georgia | $49,350 | 9,190 |
| North Carolina | $49,100 | 13,480 |
| Texas | $48,900 | 33,540 |
| West Virginia | $48,710 | 3,670 |
| Mississippi | $48,650 | 2,950 |
| Alabama | $48,220 | 5,560 |
| South Dakota | $48,140 | 4,560 |
| Arkansas | $47,760 | 4,030 |
| Oklahoma | $46,910 | 3,820 |
| Guam | $36,910 | 1,510 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,530 | 3,180 |
Best-paying metro areas for carpenters
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $95,280 | 120 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | 3,120 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $91,970 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $89,200 | 14,010 |
| Decatur, IL | $87,220 | 180 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $84,970 | 280 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $84,430 | 650 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $82,110 | 700 |
| Napa, CA | $80,590 | 650 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,520 | 2,150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,440 | 14,220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $80,190 | 4,460 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $77,690 | 700 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $77,220 | 820 |
| Springfield, IL | $76,970 | 290 |
Metro areas with the most carpenters
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 34,210 | $74,300 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 30,600 | $75,740 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,970 | $76,410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 14,260 | $61,780 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 14,220 | $80,440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 14,010 | $89,200 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 13,280 | $60,800 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 12,970 | $70,880 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 12,720 | $75,210 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 12,710 | $60,320 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 10,200 | $74,060 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 10,100 | $51,570 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 9,730 | $74,440 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 9,600 | $49,670 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 9,480 | $48,740 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | $25.64 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in the U.S.?
The median salary for carpenters in the U.S. is $60,580 a year, or $29.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid carpenters make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of carpenters in the U.S. earn at least $99,910 a year. The top 25% earn $76,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for carpenters in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,410 a year, and a quarter of carpenters earn $48,510 or less.
How many carpenters work in the U.S.?
About 670,090 carpenters are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.