How much does a carpenter make? Carpenter salary and hourly pay
A carpenter in the US earns a median of $60,580 a year, about $29.12 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,410 and the top 10% earn over $99,910. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Hawaii, has a median of $85,280.
Carpenter pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a carpenter make an hour?
The median carpenter earns $29.12 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $19.43 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48.03 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Lower 25% | $48,510 | $23.32 |
| Median (typical) | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Upper 25% | $76,830 | $36.94 |
| Top 10% | $99,910 | $48.03 |
Carpenter salary by state
Median annual pay for carpenters in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Alaska | $73,860 | $35.51 |
| Arizona | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Arkansas | $47,760 | $22.96 |
| California | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Colorado | $62,830 | $30.21 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 | $30.80 |
| Delaware | $59,200 | $28.46 |
| District of Columbia | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Florida | $49,870 | $23.98 |
| Georgia | $49,350 | $23.73 |
| Hawaii | $85,280 | $41.00 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Illinois | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Indiana | $62,870 | $30.23 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| Kansas | $56,960 | $27.38 |
| Kentucky | $52,680 | $25.33 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Maine | $62,160 | $29.88 |
| Maryland | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | $36.15 |
| Michigan | $61,680 | $29.65 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 | $31.22 |
| Mississippi | $48,650 | $23.39 |
| Missouri | $60,840 | $29.25 |
| Montana | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Nebraska | $50,320 | $24.19 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | $29.99 |
| New Hampshire | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 | $30.77 |
| New Mexico | $59,720 | $28.71 |
| New York | $72,330 | $34.77 |
| North Carolina | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| North Dakota | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| Ohio | $60,810 | $29.24 |
| Oklahoma | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| Oregon | $62,870 | $30.23 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,370 | $28.54 |
| Rhode Island | $60,840 | $29.25 |
| South Carolina | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| South Dakota | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Tennessee | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| Texas | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Utah | $52,360 | $25.17 |
| Vermont | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Virginia | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Washington | $74,190 | $35.67 |
| West Virginia | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Wisconsin | $61,660 | $29.64 |
| Wyoming | $56,850 | $27.33 |
Highest-paying states for carpenters
- Hawaii: $85,280 median
- Illinois: $79,000 median
- California: $75,920 median
- Massachusetts: $75,200 median
- Washington: $74,190 median
The lowest medians are in Oklahoma ($46,910), Arkansas ($47,760), South Dakota ($48,140), Alabama ($48,220), Mississippi ($48,650). The most carpenter jobs are in California (100,750 jobs), New York (40,630 jobs), Florida (39,300 jobs), Texas (33,540 jobs), Pennsylvania (30,630 jobs).
How much does a carpenter make a month?
At the median salary of $60,580, a carpenter earns about $5,048 a month, $2,330 every two weeks or $1,165 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced carpenter pay
New carpenters typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,410 a year and the lowest 25% under $48,510. The top 25% earn over $76,830 and the top 10% over $99,910. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Carpenter salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 |
| Lineman | $95,320 |
| Truck driver | $58,640 |
Common questions
How much does a carpenter make?
The US median is $60,580 a year ($29.12 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a carpenter make an hour?
The median is about $29.12 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $19.43 and the top 10% about $48.03 an hour.
Which state pays carpenters the most?
Hawaii has the highest median at $85,280, followed by Illinois ($79,000) and California ($75,920).
How much does a carpenter make a month?
At the US median of $60,580 a year, about $5,048 a month or $2,330 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level carpenter make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,410 a year and the lowest 25% under $48,510, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of carpenters make?
The top 10% earn over $99,910 a year; the top 25% earn over $76,830.
How much does a carpenter make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $75,920 in California, $48,900 in Texas, $49,870 in Florida, $72,330 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 47-2031, “Carpenters”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed carpenters or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.