Carpenters Salary
Construction and Extraction Occupations · 670K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$60,580
Median hourly
$29
Average annual
$65,630
Typical range
$40,410–$99,910
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Carpenters is $60,580 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $29 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation.
Most earn between $40,410 and $99,910 a year. There are roughly 670K people employed as carpenters in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Carpenters.
- Hourly
- $29.13
- Daily
- $233
- Weekly
- $1,165
- Bi-weekly
- $2,330
- Monthly
- $5,048
- Annual
- $60,580
$60,580 a year is around the 50th percentile for Carpenterss. The median is $60,580.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Hawaii$85,280
- 2Illinois$79,000
- 3California$75,920
- 4Massachusetts$75,200
- 5Washington$74,190
- 6Alaska$73,860
- 7New York$72,330
- 8Minnesota$64,930
- 9Connecticut$64,060
- 10New Jersey$64,010
- 11Maryland$62,960
- 12Indiana$62,870
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Kankakee, IL$95,280
- 2Urban Honolulu, HI$94,310
- 3Michigan City-La Porte, IN$91,970
- 4San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$89,200
- 5Decatur, IL$87,220
- 6Fairbanks-College, AK$84,970
- 7Oshkosh-Neenah, WI$84,430
- 8Kahului-Wailuku, HI$82,110
- 9Napa, CA$80,590
- 10Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$80,520
- 11Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$80,440
- 12San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$80,190
Related job titles
Employers advertise Carpenters roles under these titles.
- Aluminum Siding Applicator
- Aluminum Siding Installer
- Aluminum Siding Mechanic
- Amusement and Recreational Prop Maker
- Asbestos Siding Mechanic
- Assembled Wood Products Repairer
- Beam Builder
- Boat Builder
- Boat Carpenter
- Boat Carpenter Mechanic
- Boat Finisher
- Boat Joiner
- Boat Repairer
- Boatwright
- Bowling Alley Floors Installer
- Bracer
Related occupations
What a Carpenters does
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Maintain records, document actions, and present written progress reports.
- Remove damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools.
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
- Inspect ceiling or floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass, or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Carpenters make?
- The median annual wage for Carpenters is $60,580 ($29 per hour). Pay ranges from about $40,410 at the 10th percentile to $99,910 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Carpenters?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $65,630, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Carpenterss the most?
- Hawaii has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $85,280.
- Is Carpenters a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 670K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Carpenters do?
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.; Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.; Maintain records, document actions, and present written progress reports..