SOC 47-2031 · May 2025
Carpenter Salary
Carpenters in the US earn a median of $60,580 a year ($31.55 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Carpenter pay climbed from $52,850 in 2019 to $65,630 in 2025, a +24.2% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$60,580
Half of all Carpenters in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+24.2% since 2019 · +2.5% YoY
Hourly
$31.55
Job growth 2025-35
+3.9%
US workers
670,090
BLS series
Annual median wage for Carpenters in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Carpenters is $40,410 – $99,910.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$40,410
25th
$48,510
Median
$60,580
75th
$76,830
90th
$99,910
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Carpenters. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $40,410 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $48,510 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $60,580 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $76,830 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $99,910 |
Geography
Carpenter pay by state
Carpenters earn the most in Hawaii ($85,280, +41% against the national median) and the least in Oklahoma ($46,910). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$60,580
Highest-paying states for carpenters
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 | +41% | 4,810 |
| Illinois | $79,000 | +30% | 19,570 |
| California | $75,920 | +25% | 100,750 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | +24% | 18,540 |
| Washington | $74,190 | +22% | 26,960 |
| Alaska | $73,860 | +22% | 2,560 |
| New York | $72,330 | +19% | 40,630 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 | +7% | 14,930 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 | +6% | 5,160 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 | +6% | 14,230 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Oregon | $62,870 | 15,110 |
| Indiana | $62,870 | 15,240 |
| Colorado | $62,830 | 12,740 |
| Vermont | $62,400 | 3,080 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | 12,700 |
| Maine | $62,160 | 5,170 |
| D.C. | $61,710 | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $61,680 | 18,590 |
| Wisconsin | $61,660 | 13,880 |
| New Hampshire | $61,200 | 3,760 |
| Rhode Island | $60,840 | 2,580 |
| Missouri | $60,840 | 14,410 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Carpenters
Carpenters construct, install, and repair structures and fixtures made from wood and other materials. The trade spans residential framing, commercial finish work, formwork, and specialized cabinetry. Most carpenters enter through a 3-4 year apprenticeship combining classroom instruction with on-the-job training. Union membership, region, and specialization (e.g., scaffolders, formwork carpenters in commercial construction) drive substantial pay variation above the OEWS median.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $40,410 – $99,910. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Hawaii, Illinois and California. Pay in Hawaii runs 1.8 times the level in Oklahoma, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 62,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 3.9% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Carpenter salary in the US?
How much does a Carpenter make an hour?
How much do Carpenters make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Carpenters the most?
Is the average Carpenter salary higher than the median?
Is Carpenter a growing career?
Open positions
Open Carpenter roles hiring now
Browse current Carpenter listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 47-2031. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.