California Median
$75,920
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+25% vs US median
US median $60,580
State Rank
#3 of 51
100,750 employed here
How much does a Carpenter make in California?
Carpenters in California take home a median of $75,920 annually — roughly $36.50 an hour — which runs 25% above the national median of $60,580.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $47,490 while the top 10% make $119,950 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $59,740 and $95,830 a year.
Carpenter salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,490 | $22.83 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $59,740 | $28.72 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $75,920 | $36.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $95,830 | $46.07 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,950 | $57.67 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Carpenter pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Carpenter salary in other states
Hawaii $85,280Illinois $79,000Massachusetts $75,200Washington $74,190Alaska $73,860New York $72,330Minnesota $64,930Connecticut $64,060New Jersey $64,010Maryland $62,960Indiana $62,870Oregon $62,870Colorado $62,830Vermont $62,400Nevada $62,380Maine $62,160District of Columbia $61,710Michigan $61,680Wisconsin $61,660New Hampshire $61,200Missouri $60,840Rhode Island $60,840Ohio $60,810New Mexico $59,720Pennsylvania $59,370Delaware $59,200Montana $58,820Arizona $58,580North Dakota $57,890Iowa $57,710Kansas $56,960Wyoming $56,850Virginia $55,690Kentucky $52,680Utah $52,360Idaho $52,000Tennessee $50,830South Carolina $50,670Nebraska $50,320Louisiana $49,920Florida $49,870Georgia $49,350North Carolina $49,100Texas $48,900West Virginia $48,710Mississippi $48,650Alabama $48,220South Dakota $48,140Arkansas $47,760Oklahoma $46,910
Working as a Carpenter in California
Nationally, about 670,000 people work as Carpenters in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($75,920) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Carpenter make in California?
The median Carpenter salary in California is $75,920 per year, or about $36.50 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $47,490 at the entry level to $119,950 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Carpenters about 25% more than the national median of $60,580. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Carpenters?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $75,920 a year. About 100,750 Carpenters are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Carpenter salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.