Carpenter salary by state
The national median for carpenters was $29.12 an hour, or $60,580 a year, in May 2025. Where the work is changes that a lot: Hawaii pays $18.45 an hour more at the median than Oklahoma.
National pay for carpenters
The BLS carpenter group covers framing, finish and remodel carpenters, on homes and on commercial jobs.
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $19.43 | $40,410 |
| 25th percentile | $23.32 | $48,510 |
| Median | $29.12 | $60,580 |
| 75th percentile | $36.94 | $76,830 |
| 90th percentile | $48.03 | $99,910 |
| Average (mean) | $31.55 | $65,630 |
Highest and lowest paying states
Ranked by median hourly wage. These are wages as paid, not adjusted for living costs.
| Top 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hawaii | $41.00 | $85,280 |
| 2. Illinois | $37.98 | $79,000 |
| 3. California | $36.50 | $75,920 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $36.16 | $75,200 |
| 5. Washington | $35.67 | $74,190 |
| Bottom 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 51. Oklahoma | $22.55 | $46,910 |
| 50. Arkansas | $22.96 | $47,760 |
| 49. South Dakota | $23.14 | $48,140 |
| 48. Alabama | $23.18 | $48,220 |
| 47. Mississippi | $23.39 | $48,650 |
Carpenter pay in every state
Pick a state for its full page: the pay range, how it compares with its neighbors, how many carpenters work there and what a business should charge.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Bottom to top tenth | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.18 | $48,220 | $16.55 to $30.36 | 5,560 |
| Alaska | $35.51 | $73,860 | $23.59 to $72.85 | 2,560 |
| Arizona | $28.17 | $58,580 | $18.67 to $36.52 | 16,230 |
| Arkansas | $22.96 | $47,760 | $17.50 to $33.92 | 4,030 |
| California | $36.50 | $75,920 | $22.83 to $57.67 | 100,750 |
| Colorado | $30.21 | $62,830 | $22.61 to $43.62 | 12,740 |
| Connecticut | $30.80 | $64,060 | $23.62 to $42.31 | 5,160 |
| Delaware | $28.46 | $59,200 | $21.71 to $39.10 | 2,250 |
| District of Columbia | $29.67 | $61,710 | $23.00 to $38.81 | 1,540 |
| Florida | $23.98 | $49,870 | $17.75 to $33.63 | 39,300 |
| Georgia | $23.72 | $49,350 | $16.77 to $30.51 | 9,190 |
| Hawaii | $41.00 | $85,280 | $25.37 to $55.72 | 4,810 |
| Idaho | $25.00 | $52,000 | $17.72 to $36.40 | 8,380 |
| Illinois | $37.98 | $79,000 | $19.18 to $56.57 | 19,570 |
| Indiana | $30.23 | $62,870 | $21.88 to $43.60 | 15,240 |
| Iowa | $27.75 | $57,710 | $18.77 to $36.80 | 5,770 |
| Kansas | $27.39 | $56,960 | $18.68 to $42.35 | 5,210 |
| Kentucky | $25.33 | $52,680 | $17.67 to $35.08 | 8,540 |
| Louisiana | $24.00 | $49,920 | $16.40 to $33.32 | 8,990 |
| Maine | $29.88 | $62,160 | $22.66 to $37.62 | 5,170 |
| Maryland | $30.27 | $62,960 | $21.12 to $45.66 | 9,770 |
| Massachusetts | $36.16 | $75,200 | $23.19 to $59.08 | 18,540 |
| Michigan | $29.66 | $61,680 | $21.42 to $39.36 | 18,590 |
| Minnesota | $31.22 | $64,930 | $22.40 to $47.66 | 14,930 |
| Mississippi | $23.39 | $48,650 | $16.67 to $30.50 | 2,950 |
| Missouri | $29.25 | $60,840 | $18.60 to $46.30 | 14,410 |
| Montana | $28.28 | $58,820 | $20.68 to $37.09 | 4,030 |
| Nebraska | $24.19 | $50,320 | $18.71 to $35.00 | 5,710 |
| Nevada | $29.99 | $62,380 | $20.03 to $49.21 | 12,700 |
| New Hampshire | $29.42 | $61,200 | $21.87 to $44.43 | 3,760 |
| New Jersey | $30.77 | $64,010 | $21.00 to $58.41 | 14,230 |
| New Mexico | $28.71 | $59,720 | $19.28 to $37.40 | 3,630 |
| New York | $34.77 | $72,330 | $22.53 to $58.84 | 40,630 |
| North Carolina | $23.61 | $49,100 | $17.13 to $30.36 | 13,480 |
| North Dakota | $27.83 | $57,890 | $21.09 to $36.90 | 2,360 |
| Ohio | $29.24 | $60,810 | $20.33 to $39.01 | 18,450 |
| Oklahoma | $22.55 | $46,910 | $16.67 to $31.22 | 3,820 |
| Oregon | $30.23 | $62,870 | $21.06 to $51.13 | 15,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.54 | $59,370 | $20.66 to $44.29 | 30,630 |
| Rhode Island | $29.25 | $60,840 | $23.00 to $43.11 | 2,580 |
| South Carolina | $24.36 | $50,670 | $17.31 to $38.00 | 6,950 |
| South Dakota | $23.14 | $48,140 | $18.14 to $31.68 | 4,560 |
| Tennessee | $24.44 | $50,830 | $18.01 to $31.95 | 8,200 |
| Texas | $23.51 | $48,900 | $17.78 to $31.69 | 33,540 |
| Utah | $25.17 | $52,360 | $17.58 to $36.14 | 15,220 |
| Vermont | $30.00 | $62,400 | $23.00 to $36.95 | 3,080 |
| Virginia | $26.77 | $55,690 | $18.38 to $35.70 | 20,460 |
| Washington | $35.67 | $74,190 | $25.16 to $57.65 | 26,960 |
| West Virginia | $23.42 | $48,710 | $17.26 to $33.69 | 3,670 |
| Wisconsin | $29.65 | $61,660 | $21.69 to $44.73 | 13,880 |
| Wyoming | $27.33 | $56,850 | $21.50 to $38.85 | 2,260 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-2031, carpenters, all industries. Read from the BLS state and national data files. Counts leave out the self-employed.
From a wage to a price
If you run the business, the wage is only the start. At the national median of $29.12, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) give a rate of $121.73 per billable hour. Try yours in the labor rate calculator.