How much do carpenters make in Pennsylvania in 2026?

The median carpenter in Pennsylvania earns $59,370 a year, which works out to roughly $28.54 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the middle of the road — half of Pennsylvania carpenters earn more, half earn less. Where you fall on that range depends heavily on your years in the trade, the type of work you do, and where in the state you're working.

At the 25th percentile, carpenters take home $47,850 annually, or about $23.00 an hour. These are typically workers earlier in their careers, those doing residential framing or finish work in lower-wage markets, or anyone working fewer hours through the year due to seasonal slowdowns. At the 75th percentile, pay jumps to $74,700 a year — around $35.91 an hour. Workers at that level generally have ten or more years of experience, carry foreman responsibilities, or specialize in commercial and industrial carpentry where project complexity and schedules push wages up.

The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is $26,850 a year. That's not a small number, and it reflects how much skill accumulation and specialty matter in this trade. A carpenter who can read structural drawings, run a crew, and handle complex formwork or millwork finish is worth substantially more to a general contractor than someone who can only do rough framing.

Pennsylvania's geography plays a role too. The Philadelphia metro and its surrounding counties — Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester — tend to carry higher wage rates, driven by dense commercial construction, renovation demand, and a higher cost of living. The Pittsburgh area also supports solid wages, particularly on industrial and infrastructure projects. Central and rural Pennsylvania markets generally sit lower, closer to that 25th percentile figure.

Carpenters who work on commercial or heavy civil projects typically out-earn those working in residential. Commercial jobs involve more complex work — concrete formwork, curtainwall framing, interior fit-out on tight schedules — and contractors pay accordingly. Hospital and institutional work, which Pennsylvania has in abundance given its large healthcare sector, also tends to pay above the residential median.

Overtime matters here. Carpenter work is often project-driven and seasonal, with heavy pushes in spring through fall and slower periods in winter. A carpenter at the median base rate of $28.54 an hour earns $42.81 per overtime hour. Working 200 hours of overtime in a busy season adds roughly $8,562 on top of base pay — that's a meaningful difference and one reason annual earnings can vary significantly year to year even for the same worker.

Specialization is one of the clearest levers for moving up from the median. Carpenters who develop expertise in concrete formwork, acoustical ceiling systems, or high-end architectural millwork can command rates closer to or above the 75th percentile. Finishing carpenters on high-spec residential or commercial work — detailed trim, custom cabinetry installation, historic restoration — also tend to earn above median once they build a track record.

Some carpenters in Pennsylvania work under collective bargaining agreements. If that applies to you, your wage rate and benefits are set by your local's agreement — consult that document directly for accurate figures. The BLS numbers here reflect the full workforce, both union and non-union.

Apprenticeship is the standard path into the trade. Most programs run three to four years, and apprentice pay typically scales from around 50% of journeyman scale up to full rate by the final year. Starting at the lower end is expected — the math works out over a career once you reach journeyman standing and accumulate specialty skills.

All figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. BLS collects data from employer payroll records, so it captures base wages reliably. It does not capture unreported cash pay, per-diem allowances, or the full value of benefits packages, which means real total compensation for some workers may run higher than these figures suggest.