Carpenters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Mean (average) | $65,630 | $31.55 |
| 90th percentile | $99,910 | $48.03 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Carpenters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,220 | $34,430 | $63,140 | 5,560 | 0.61 |
| Alaska | $73,860 | $49,060 | $151,530 | 2,560 | 1.82 |
| Arizona | $58,580 | $38,830 | $75,950 | 16,230 | 1.16 |
| Arkansas | $47,760 | $36,400 | $70,550 | 4,030 | 0.72 |
| California | $75,920 | $47,490 | $119,950 | 100,750 | 1.28 |
| Colorado | $62,830 | $47,020 | $90,740 | 12,740 | 1.03 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 | $49,140 | $88,000 | 5,160 | 0.71 |
| Delaware | $59,200 | $45,160 | $81,320 | 2,250 | 1.08 |
| District of Columbia | $61,710 | $47,840 | $80,720 | 1,540 | 0.51 |
| Florida | $49,870 | $36,910 | $69,950 | 39,300 | 0.92 |
| Georgia | $49,350 | $34,890 | $63,470 | 9,190 | 0.44 |
| Guam | $36,910 | $35,210 | $47,470 | 1,510 | 5.26 |
| Hawaii | $85,280 | $52,760 | $115,900 | 4,810 | 1.78 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | $36,850 | $75,710 | 8,380 | 2.27 |
| Illinois | $79,000 | $39,890 | $117,660 | 19,570 | 0.74 |
| Indiana | $62,870 | $45,510 | $90,700 | 15,240 | 1.1 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | $39,040 | $76,540 | 5,770 | 0.86 |
| Kansas | $56,960 | $38,860 | $88,090 | 5,210 | 0.84 |
| Kentucky | $52,680 | $36,760 | $72,960 | 8,540 | 0.99 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 | $34,100 | $69,310 | 8,990 | 1.08 |
| Maine | $62,160 | $47,130 | $78,240 | 5,170 | 1.87 |
| Maryland | $62,960 | $43,930 | $94,970 | 9,770 | 0.82 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | $48,230 | $122,880 | 18,540 | 1.18 |
| Michigan | $61,680 | $44,550 | $81,860 | 18,590 | 0.98 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 | $46,590 | $99,130 | 14,930 | 1.17 |
| Mississippi | $48,650 | $34,670 | $63,440 | 2,950 | 0.59 |
| Missouri | $60,840 | $38,700 | $96,310 | 14,410 | 1.14 |
| Montana | $58,820 | $43,010 | $77,140 | 4,030 | 1.83 |
| Nebraska | $50,320 | $38,920 | $72,800 | 5,710 | 1.29 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | $41,670 | $102,360 | 12,700 | 1.9 |
| New Hampshire | $61,200 | $45,500 | $92,410 | 3,760 | 1.28 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 | $43,680 | $121,490 | 14,230 | 0.77 |
| New Mexico | $59,720 | $40,100 | $77,790 | 3,630 | 0.97 |
| New York | $72,330 | $46,860 | $122,400 | 40,630 | 0.97 |
| North Carolina | $49,100 | $35,620 | $63,160 | 13,480 | 0.63 |
| North Dakota | $57,890 | $43,860 | $76,760 | 2,360 | 1.28 |
| Ohio | $60,810 | $42,290 | $81,140 | 18,450 | 0.77 |
| Oklahoma | $46,910 | $34,670 | $64,940 | 3,820 | 0.52 |
| Oregon | $62,870 | $43,800 | $106,360 | 15,110 | 1.78 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,370 | $42,970 | $92,110 | 30,630 | 1.17 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,530 | $26,310 | $36,560 | 3,180 | 0.79 |
| Rhode Island | $60,840 | $47,840 | $89,670 | 2,580 | 1.19 |
| South Carolina | $50,670 | $36,010 | $79,040 | 6,950 | 0.7 |
| South Dakota | $48,140 | $37,720 | $65,890 | 4,560 | 2.32 |
| Tennessee | $50,830 | $37,460 | $66,450 | 8,200 | 0.58 |
| Texas | $48,900 | $36,980 | $65,920 | 33,540 | 0.55 |
| Utah | $52,360 | $36,560 | $75,170 | 15,220 | 2.03 |
| Vermont | $62,400 | $47,840 | $76,850 | 3,080 | 2.35 |
| Virgin Islands | $51,730 | $31,390 | $68,540 | 270 | 1.98 |
| Virginia | $55,690 | $38,230 | $74,250 | 20,460 | 1.16 |
| Washington | $74,190 | $52,330 | $119,920 | 26,960 | 1.76 |
| West Virginia | $48,710 | $35,900 | $70,060 | 3,670 | 1.21 |
| Wisconsin | $61,660 | $45,110 | $93,040 | 13,880 | 1.09 |
| Wyoming | $56,850 | $44,710 | $80,800 | 2,260 | 1.87 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for carpenters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 62,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 25.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for carpenters
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Carpentry/Carpenter CIP 46.0201
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Select and order lumber or other required materials.
- Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
- Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Bosch Punch List
- Craftsman CD Estimator
- Drawing and drafting software
- Estimating software
- Job costing software
- Quicken
- Renaissance MasterCarpenter
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- VirtualBoss
- Web browser software
- Wilhelm Publishing Threshold
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Quality Control Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Bridge Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Carpentry Construction Specialist, Concrete Carpenter, Construction Carpenter, Finish Carpenter, Form Carpenter, Maintenance Carpenter, Rough Carpenter, Scaffold Builder.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do carpenters make?
The national median annual wage for carpenters was $60,580 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,410 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $99,910. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do carpenters need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and apprenticeship on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is carpenters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of carpenters to change +3.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 62,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay carpenters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($85,280), Illinois ($79,000), California ($75,920). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.