Median Salary
$60,580
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$99,910
entry level starts ~$40,410
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 670,000 employed
How much does a Carpenter make?
Carpenters in the United States bring home a median salary of $60,580 a year, or around $29.13 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $40,410, while the top 10% earn $99,910.
That is $810 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Carpenter salary range by percentile
Half of all Carpenters earn between $48,510 and $76,830 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,410 | $19.43 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,510 | $23.32 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,580 | $29.13 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $76,830 | $36.94 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,910 | $48.03 |
|
Highest-paying states for Carpenter
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Carpenter pay at $85,280 a year, followed by Illinois ($79,000) and California ($75,920). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $46,910 — a gap of $38,370 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Carpenter salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Hawaii $85,280Illinois $79,000California $75,920Massachusetts $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
Workforce and education
About 670,000 people work as Carpenters in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $65,630 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Carpenter make in the United States?
The median Carpenter salary in the United States is $60,580 per year, or about $29.13 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $40,410, while the top 10% of earners make $99,910 or more.
How does Carpenter pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Carpenter median of $60,580 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Carpenters the most?
Hawaii is the highest-paying state for Carpenters, with a median salary of $85,280 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Carpenter?
Becoming a Carpenter typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Carpenters work in the United States?
About 670,000 people were employed as Carpenters in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other construction & trades roles with similar pay.
$43,780
median pay · 22,000 employed
$61,390
median pay · 5,000 employed
$76,170
median pay · 1,000 employed
$47,730
median pay · 7,000 employed
$56,460
median pay · 24,000 employed
$47,980
median pay · 24,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.