Carpenter salary

Carpenters in the U.S. earn a median $60,580 a year.

Median pay
$60,580
Median hourly
$29.12
Typical range
$40,410–$99,910
Jobs
670,090

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for carpenters in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$40,410
25th$48,510
Median$60,580
75th$76,830
90th (top earners)$99,910

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$74,30034,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$75,74030,600
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$76,41014,970
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$61,78014,260
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$80,44014,220
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$89,20014,010
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$60,80013,280
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$70,88012,970
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$75,21012,720
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$60,32012,710

Carpenter salary by state

  1. 1Hawaii$85,280
  2. 2Illinois$79,000
  3. 3California$75,920
  4. 4Massachusetts$75,200
  5. 5Washington$74,190
  6. 6Alaska$73,860
  7. 7New York$72,330
  8. 8Minnesota$64,930
  9. 9Connecticut$64,060
  10. 10New Jersey$64,010
  11. 11Maryland$62,960
  12. 12Indiana$62,870
  13. 13Oregon$62,870
  14. 14Colorado$62,830
  15. 15Vermont$62,400
  16. 16Nevada$62,380
  17. 17Maine$62,160
  18. –District of Columbia$61,710
  19. 18Michigan$61,680
  20. 19Wisconsin$61,660
  21. 20New Hampshire$61,200
  22. 21Missouri$60,840
  23. 22Rhode Island$60,840
  24. 23Ohio$60,810
  25. 24New Mexico$59,720
  26. 25Pennsylvania$59,370
  27. 26Delaware$59,200
  28. 27Montana$58,820
  29. 28Arizona$58,580
  30. 29North Dakota$57,890
  31. 30Iowa$57,710
  32. 31Kansas$56,960
  33. 32Wyoming$56,850
  34. 33Virginia$55,690
  35. 34Kentucky$52,680
  36. 35Utah$52,360
  37. 36Idaho$52,000
  38. 37Tennessee$50,830
  39. 38South Carolina$50,670
  40. 39Nebraska$50,320
  41. 40Louisiana$49,920
  42. 41Florida$49,870
  43. 42Georgia$49,350
  44. 43North Carolina$49,100
  45. 44Texas$48,900
  46. 45West Virginia$48,710
  47. 46Mississippi$48,650
  48. 47Alabama$48,220
  49. 48South Dakota$48,140
  50. 49Arkansas$47,760
  51. 50Oklahoma$46,910
  52. –Puerto Rico$30,530

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do carpenters make?

The median pay for carpenters in the U.S. is $60,580 a year ($29.12 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,410, and the top 10% earn over $99,910.

Which states pay carpenters the most?

The top-paying states are Hawaii ($85,280), Illinois ($79,000), California ($75,920), Massachusetts ($75,200), Washington ($74,190).

How can a carpenter earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a carpenter covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Carpenters, SOC 47-2031). Figures exclude self-employed workers.