Helpers--carpenters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,660 | $15.22 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Mean (average) | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| 90th percentile | $57,670 | $27.73 |
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
Helpers--carpenters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,930 | $29,610 | $47,730 | 410 | 1.39 |
| Alaska | $39,210 | $36,270 | $50,270 | 90 | 1.89 |
| Arizona | $41,540 | $38,590 | $44,960 | ||
| Arkansas | $46,800 | $33,410 | $74,670 | 100 | 0.55 |
| California | $49,890 | $36,690 | $76,080 | 2,670 | 1.05 |
| Colorado | $50,900 | $41,430 | $54,870 | 200 | 0.49 |
| Connecticut | $50,460 | $41,600 | $60,030 | 200 | 0.84 |
| Delaware | $33,920 | $31,200 | $45,990 | 190 | 2.86 |
| Florida | $40,220 | $34,160 | $49,450 | 2,120 | 1.53 |
| Georgia | $40,160 | $27,890 | $45,620 | 410 | 0.6 |
| Hawaii | $44,550 | $40,010 | $54,090 | ||
| Idaho | $41,820 | $31,810 | $49,200 | ||
| Illinois | $45,660 | $31,200 | $59,740 | ||
| Indiana | $42,940 | $32,900 | $53,460 | 160 | 0.36 |
| Iowa | $39,830 | $30,730 | $56,390 | 100 | 0.46 |
| Kansas | $38,130 | $29,900 | $49,000 | 80 | 0.41 |
| Kentucky | $35,520 | $25,320 | $42,970 | ||
| Louisiana | $40,900 | $22,660 | $52,100 | 860 | 3.2 |
| Maine | $50,100 | $39,480 | $54,950 | 160 | 1.84 |
| Maryland | $39,470 | $31,660 | $54,190 | 580 | 1.5 |
| Massachusetts | $48,130 | $35,190 | $56,160 | 630 | 1.24 |
| Michigan | $44,960 | $34,820 | $53,020 | 230 | 0.38 |
| Mississippi | $35,360 | $29,120 | $42,670 | 140 | 0.87 |
| Missouri | $32,420 | $28,780 | $45,020 | 50 | 0.11 |
| Montana | $42,670 | $39,870 | $49,920 | ||
| Nebraska | $39,670 | $31,990 | $47,290 | 50 | 0.33 |
| Nevada | $36,230 | $26,800 | $47,440 | 540 | 2.51 |
| New Hampshire | $58,090 | $42,320 | $61,830 | ||
| New Jersey | $44,040 | $32,220 | $58,240 | 840 | 1.41 |
| New Mexico | $37,100 | $32,000 | $53,310 | 50 | 0.44 |
| New York | $47,740 | $38,850 | $58,210 | 1,110 | 0.82 |
| North Carolina | $40,540 | $29,920 | $48,680 | 650 | 0.95 |
| Ohio | $44,760 | $27,910 | $54,870 | 540 | 0.69 |
| Oklahoma | $38,080 | $29,890 | $45,470 | 150 | 0.64 |
| Oregon | $43,260 | $33,780 | $53,820 | 220 | 0.82 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,880 | $31,200 | $56,580 | 560 | 0.66 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,530 | $22,240 | $34,180 | 1,410 | 10.76 |
| Rhode Island | $50,300 | $47,690 | $56,980 | ||
| South Carolina | $36,090 | $25,830 | $43,920 | 200 | 0.62 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 | $27,420 | $46,370 | 330 | 5.14 |
| Tennessee | $39,790 | $33,410 | $55,450 | 440 | 0.97 |
| Texas | $43,950 | $28,490 | $56,560 | 2,270 | 1.16 |
| Utah | $35,820 | $26,730 | $53,340 | 330 | 1.36 |
| Vermont | $44,550 | $40,090 | $58,000 | 200 | 4.71 |
| Virginia | $43,730 | $30,460 | $57,140 | 1,200 | 2.09 |
| Washington | $46,060 | $41,990 | $60,040 | 620 | 1.26 |
| West Virginia | $33,760 | $29,370 | $47,930 | 320 | 3.26 |
| Wisconsin | $39,480 | $26,750 | $56,880 | 150 | 0.38 |
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 helpers--carpenters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.7%.
- 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 helpers--carpenters
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- 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
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Erect scaffolding, shoring, or braces.
- Clean work areas, machines, or equipment, to maintain a clean and safe job site.
- Align, straighten, plumb, or square forms for installation.
- Select tools, equipment, or materials from storage and transport items to work site.
- Fasten timbers or lumber with glue, screws, pegs, or nails and install hardware.
- Position and hold timbers, lumber, or paneling in place for fastening or cutting.
- Cut timbers, lumber, or paneling to specified dimensions.
- Hold plumb bobs, sighting rods, or other equipment to aid in establishing reference points and lines.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- UNIX (hot technology)
- Bosch Punch List
- Cost estimating software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Selection, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Carpenter Apprentice, Carpenter Assistant, Carpenter Helper.
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 helpers--carpenters make?
The national median annual wage for helpers--carpenters was $43,780 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,660 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $57,670. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do helpers--carpenters need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is helpers--carpenters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of helpers--carpenters to change -1.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay helpers--carpenters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Hampshire ($58,090), Colorado ($50,900), Connecticut ($50,460). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.