How much do carpenters make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for carpenters?

Different states win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 25 states: $48,220–$79,000 (median $60,840).

Carpenter pay by state

Where is the union premium biggest for Carpenters?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

We don't have union scale data for Carpenter across our states yet — these states are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Carpenter.

Union landscape

TradesPays does not have union scale data for carpenters in our covered states. That's a straight answer — we'd rather tell you what we don't have than paper over a gap with vague language. What we can say is this: some carpenters work under a collective bargaining agreement, and if you're one of them, your actual pay, benefits, and working conditions are set by that agreement — not by the statewide medians you see here. The rates in those contracts can differ significantly from the BLS figures, depending on classification, jurisdiction, and the current contract cycle. If you're working union or considering it, the right move is to contact your local directly and ask for the current wage schedule. That's the only document that actually governs what you get paid. We're working to add negotiated scale data where we can obtain it reliably, and we'll publish it when we can stand behind the numbers.

What we don't track yet

Two gaps worth naming upfront so you know exactly what you're working with. First, TradesPays currently reports at the state level. We don't have metro-area breakdowns for carpenters yet. That matters because a carpenter in Chicago and a carpenter downstate Illinois are both folded into that $79,000 state figure — and those two markets don't behave the same way. Metro-level data is on the roadmap; it's not here yet. Second, we don't have tiered pay data by apprentice, journeyman, or master carpenter classification outside of union scale — and as noted above, we don't have union scale for this trade in our states either. The BLS figures we publish capture the full workforce average at each percentile, not a clean career-stage breakdown. If you're early in your apprenticeship, your actual pay is likely closer to or below the 25th percentile. If you're a seasoned finish carpenter or a foreman, you may be pushing well past the 75th. Know something we don't? If you have verified pay data — a pay stub range, a negotiated scale sheet, a contractor rate sheet — use the submission link on this page. Better data helps every carpenter who looks this up after you.

Carpenter pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for carpenters?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median wage for carpenters is $60,580 per year. Half of all carpenters earn more than this figure, and half earn less.

What do the top 25% of carpenters earn nationally?

The 75th percentile for carpenters nationally is $76,830. That means roughly one in four carpenters earns above that mark. Specialty work, supervisory roles, and high-cost-of-labor states tend to push wages into and above that range.

Which states pay carpenters the most in the TradesPays dataset?

In the 25 states TradesPays currently covers, the highest-paying are Illinois at $79,000, California at $75,920, and Massachusetts at $75,200. These figures are state-level averages and include all experience levels and work types.

Which state has the lowest carpenter wages in the TradesPays dataset?

Alabama is the lowest in our current dataset at $48,220. That's roughly $30,000 less per year than the top state in our set — a gap that reflects differences in cost of living, construction volume, and labor market conditions.

Why is there such a wide pay range for carpenters?

The $28,320 gap between the 25th percentile ($48,510) and the 75th percentile ($76,830) reflects real differences in specialty, location, and experience. Rough framing on a production housing site pays differently than finish carpentry, cabinetry, or commercial formwork. State labor markets add another layer on top of that.

Does TradesPays show carpenter wages by city or metro area?

Not yet. All carpenter data on TradesPays is currently reported at the state level across 25 states. Metro-level breakdowns are on the roadmap but aren't available right now. If you know your metro pays significantly differently from the state figure, that's worth factoring into how you read these numbers.

How often is the carpenter wage data updated?

The figures on this page come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 release. TradesPays updates its data when new BLS OEWS releases become available, typically on an annual basis. Check the data date on any figure before using it for a negotiation or job offer comparison.

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