Carpenters
Carpenters (SOC 47-2031) earn a median $60,580 a year ($29.12 an hour) in the United States, with 670,090 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What carpenters do
Carpenters build, erect, install and repair structures and fixtures made of wood and similar materials. Rough carpentry includes concrete forms, wall and floor framing, joists, studding and rafters; finish carpentry covers stairs, door and window frames and hardwood floors, and the work may also include installing cabinets, siding, drywall and insulation. A carpenter studies the plans or sketches to lay out the project, measures and marks cutting lines, cuts material to size with hand tools and power saws, and fastens it with nails, screws, dowel pins or glue, verifying trueness with a plumb bob and level as the work goes. Erecting scaffolding or ladders to reach work above ground, following safety rules and keeping the site clean are part of the routine. Carpenters differ from construction laborers, who perform general physical labor on the site. The SOC definition also includes brattice builders, who build ventilation walls in underground passageways.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Aluminum Siding Applicator, Aluminum Siding Installer, Aluminum Siding Mechanic, Amusement and Recreational Prop Maker, Asbestos Siding Mechanic.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.43 | $23.32 | $29.12 | $36.94 | $48.03 | $31.55 | 670,090 |
| Annual | $40,410 | $48,510 | $60,580 | $76,830 | $99,910 | $65,630 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where carpenters earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $25.37 | $31.91 | $41.00 | $53.36 | $55.72 | $42.06 | 4,810 | 7.67 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $52,760 | $66,380 | $85,280 | $110,980 | $115,900 | $87,480 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $19.18 | $27.00 | $37.98 | $51.42 | $56.57 | $38.62 | 19,570 | 3.21 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $39,890 | $56,160 | $79,000 | $106,950 | $117,660 | $80,320 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.83 | $28.72 | $36.50 | $46.07 | $57.67 | $37.89 | 100,750 | 5.53 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $47,490 | $59,740 | $75,920 | $95,830 | $119,950 | $78,810 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.19 | $29.21 | $36.16 | $46.88 | $59.08 | $38.31 | 18,540 | 5.10 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $48,230 | $60,770 | $75,200 | $97,520 | $122,880 | $79,680 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.16 | $29.15 | $35.67 | $44.55 | $57.65 | $38.06 | 26,960 | 7.59 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $52,330 | $60,630 | $74,190 | $92,660 | $119,920 | $79,170 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.83 | $28.72 | $36.50 | $46.07 | $57.67 | $37.89 | 100,750 | 5.53 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $47,490 | $59,740 | $75,920 | $95,830 | $119,950 | $78,810 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.53 | $27.56 | $34.77 | $43.18 | $58.84 | $36.52 | 40,630 | 4.19 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $46,860 | $57,330 | $72,330 | $89,820 | $122,400 | $75,970 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.75 | $21.41 | $23.98 | $28.79 | $33.63 | $25.27 | 39,300 | 3.96 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $36,910 | $44,540 | $49,870 | $59,880 | $69,950 | $52,560 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.78 | $21.48 | $23.51 | $27.78 | $31.69 | $24.51 | 33,540 | 2.38 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $36,980 | $44,690 | $48,900 | $57,780 | $65,920 | $50,990 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $20.66 | $23.01 | $28.54 | $35.92 | $44.29 | $30.39 | 30,630 | 5.05 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $42,970 | $47,850 | $59,370 | $74,700 | $92,110 | $63,220 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kankakee, IL | Hourly | $22.95 | $29.61 | $45.81 | $47.54 | $47.54 | $39.46 | 120 | 2.75 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $47,730 | $61,600 | $95,280 | $98,880 | $98,880 | $82,070 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $25.89 | $33.49 | $45.34 | $55.04 | $55.52 | $42.98 | 3,120 | 6.98 | 1.62 |
| Annual | $53,860 | $69,660 | $94,310 | $114,490 | $115,470 | $89,400 | ||||
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | Hourly | $23.99 | $33.17 | $44.22 | $44.22 | $44.22 | $38.39 | 260 | 6.31 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $49,910 | $68,990 | $91,970 | $91,970 | $91,980 | $79,860 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $28.38 | $30.45 | $42.89 | $48.26 | $63.83 | $43.09 | 14,010 | 5.90 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $59,020 | $63,340 | $89,200 | $100,380 | $132,760 | $89,630 | ||||
| Decatur, IL | Hourly | $24.06 | $30.45 | $41.93 | $53.17 | $56.95 | $42.56 | 180 | 3.88 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $50,050 | $63,330 | $87,220 | $110,590 | $118,460 | $88,510 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.53 | $28.92 | $35.72 | $47.15 | $59.52 | $38.73 | 34,210 | 3.60 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $46,860 | $60,160 | $74,300 | $98,080 | $123,810 | $80,560 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.53 | $28.59 | $36.41 | $48.37 | $56.46 | $37.79 | 30,600 | 4.88 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $46,860 | $59,470 | $75,740 | $100,620 | $117,430 | $78,600 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $27.93 | $30.64 | $36.74 | $47.93 | $59.50 | $40.42 | 14,970 | 7.18 | 1.67 |
| Annual | $58,090 | $63,740 | $76,410 | $99,700 | $123,750 | $84,060 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $21.97 | $23.17 | $29.70 | $36.83 | $47.34 | $31.70 | 14,260 | 4.92 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $45,690 | $48,190 | $61,780 | $76,600 | $98,470 | $65,930 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $19.82 | $28.26 | $38.68 | $54.79 | $56.95 | $39.96 | 14,220 | 3.15 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $41,220 | $58,770 | $80,440 | $113,970 | $118,450 | $83,110 | ||||
Top industries employing carpenters
Residential Building Construction employ 30.5% of carpenters nationally (204,290 jobs) at a median $60,600 a year ($29.13 an hour), followed by Building Finishing Contractors (16.9%) and Nonresidential Building Construction (16.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Building Construction NAICS 236100 | 204,290 | 30.5% | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Building Finishing Contractors NAICS 238300 | 112,950 | 16.9% | $60,880 | $29.27 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 108,660 | 16.2% | $63,780 | $30.66 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors NAICS 238100 | 90,870 | 13.6% | $58,790 | $28.27 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 17,410 | 2.6% | $59,900 | $28.80 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (670,090). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,260 for carpenters in May 2021 and $60,580 in May 2025, with employment of 668,060 and 670,090.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,260 | $23.20 | 668,060 |
| May 2022 | $51,390 | $24.71 | 689,770 |
| May 2023 | $56,350 | $27.09 | 700,290 |
| May 2024 | $59,310 | $28.51 | 697,740 |
| May 2025 | $60,580 | $29.12 | 670,090 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $41.00 | $85,280 | $52,760 | $115,900 | 4,810 | 7.67 | 1.78 |
| 2 | Illinois profile | $37.98 | $79,000 | $39,890 | $117,660 | 19,570 | 3.21 | 0.74 |
| 3 | California profile | $36.50 | $75,920 | $47,490 | $119,950 | 100,750 | 5.53 | 1.28 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $36.16 | $75,200 | $48,230 | $122,880 | 18,540 | 5.10 | 1.18 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $35.67 | $74,190 | $52,330 | $119,920 | 26,960 | 7.59 | 1.76 |
| 6 | Alaska profile | $35.51 | $73,860 | $49,060 | $151,530 | 2,560 | 7.85 | 1.82 |
| 7 | New York profile | $34.77 | $72,330 | $46,860 | $122,400 | 40,630 | 4.19 | 0.97 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $31.22 | $64,930 | $46,590 | $99,130 | 14,930 | 5.06 | 1.17 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $30.80 | $64,060 | $49,140 | $88,000 | 5,160 | 3.04 | 0.71 |
| 10 | New Jersey profile | $30.77 | $64,010 | $43,680 | $121,490 | 14,230 | 3.32 | 0.77 |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $30.27 | $62,960 | $43,930 | $94,970 | 9,770 | 3.54 | 0.82 |
| 12 | Indiana profile | $30.23 | $62,870 | $45,510 | $90,700 | 15,240 | 4.76 | 1.10 |
| 13 | Oregon profile | $30.23 | $62,870 | $43,800 | $106,360 | 15,110 | 7.68 | 1.78 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $30.21 | $62,830 | $47,020 | $90,740 | 12,740 | 4.43 | 1.03 |
| 15 | Vermont profile | $30.00 | $62,400 | $47,840 | $76,850 | 3,080 | 10.14 | 2.35 |
| 16 | Nevada profile | $29.99 | $62,380 | $41,670 | $102,360 | 12,700 | 8.19 | 1.90 |
| 17 | Maine profile | $29.88 | $62,160 | $47,130 | $78,240 | 5,170 | 8.07 | 1.87 |
| 18 | District of Columbia profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $47,840 | $80,720 | 1,540 | 2.19 | 0.51 |
| 19 | Michigan profile | $29.66 | $61,680 | $44,550 | $81,860 | 18,590 | 4.22 | 0.98 |
| 20 | Wisconsin profile | $29.65 | $61,660 | $45,110 | $93,040 | 13,880 | 4.72 | 1.09 |
| 21 | New Hampshire profile | $29.42 | $61,200 | $45,500 | $92,410 | 3,760 | 5.51 | 1.28 |
| 22 | Missouri profile | $29.25 | $60,840 | $38,700 | $96,310 | 14,410 | 4.91 | 1.14 |
| 23 | Rhode Island profile | $29.25 | $60,840 | $47,840 | $89,670 | 2,580 | 5.14 | 1.19 |
| 24 | Ohio profile | $29.24 | $60,810 | $42,290 | $81,140 | 18,450 | 3.32 | 0.77 |
| 25 | New Mexico profile | $28.71 | $59,720 | $40,100 | $77,790 | 3,630 | 4.17 | 0.97 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.54 | $59,370 | $42,970 | $92,110 | 30,630 | 5.05 | 1.17 |
| 27 | Delaware profile | $28.46 | $59,200 | $45,160 | $81,320 | 2,250 | 4.64 | 1.08 |
| 28 | Montana profile | $28.28 | $58,820 | $43,010 | $77,140 | 4,030 | 7.88 | 1.83 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $28.17 | $58,580 | $38,830 | $75,950 | 16,230 | 5.01 | 1.16 |
| 30 | North Dakota profile | $27.83 | $57,890 | $43,860 | $76,760 | 2,360 | 5.51 | 1.28 |
| 31 | Iowa profile | $27.75 | $57,710 | $39,040 | $76,540 | 5,770 | 3.70 | 0.86 |
| 32 | Kansas profile | $27.39 | $56,960 | $38,860 | $88,090 | 5,210 | 3.62 | 0.84 |
| 33 | Wyoming profile | $27.33 | $56,850 | $44,710 | $80,800 | 2,260 | 8.06 | 1.87 |
| 34 | Virginia profile | $26.77 | $55,690 | $38,230 | $74,250 | 20,460 | 4.98 | 1.16 |
| 35 | Kentucky profile | $25.33 | $52,680 | $36,760 | $72,960 | 8,540 | 4.27 | 0.99 |
| 36 | Utah profile | $25.17 | $52,360 | $36,560 | $75,170 | 15,220 | 8.77 | 2.03 |
| 37 | Idaho profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $36,850 | $75,710 | 8,380 | 9.78 | 2.27 |
| 38 | Tennessee profile | $24.44 | $50,830 | $37,460 | $66,450 | 8,200 | 2.50 | 0.58 |
| 39 | South Carolina profile | $24.36 | $50,670 | $36,010 | $79,040 | 6,950 | 3.02 | 0.70 |
| 40 | Nebraska profile | $24.19 | $50,320 | $38,920 | $72,800 | 5,710 | 5.57 | 1.29 |
| 41 | Louisiana profile | $24.00 | $49,920 | $34,100 | $69,310 | 8,990 | 4.65 | 1.08 |
| 42 | Florida profile | $23.98 | $49,870 | $36,910 | $69,950 | 39,300 | 3.96 | 0.92 |
| 43 | Georgia profile | $23.72 | $49,350 | $34,890 | $63,470 | 9,190 | 1.88 | 0.44 |
| 44 | North Carolina profile | $23.61 | $49,100 | $35,620 | $63,160 | 13,480 | 2.73 | 0.63 |
| 45 | Texas profile | $23.51 | $48,900 | $36,980 | $65,920 | 33,540 | 2.38 | 0.55 |
| 46 | West Virginia profile | $23.42 | $48,710 | $35,900 | $70,060 | 3,670 | 5.23 | 1.21 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $23.39 | $48,650 | $34,670 | $63,440 | 2,950 | 2.54 | 0.59 |
| 48 | Alabama profile | $23.18 | $48,220 | $34,430 | $63,140 | 5,560 | 2.63 | 0.61 |
| 49 | South Dakota profile | $23.14 | $48,140 | $37,720 | $65,890 | 4,560 | 9.98 | 2.32 |
| 50 | Arkansas profile | $22.96 | $47,760 | $36,400 | $70,550 | 4,030 | 3.09 | 0.72 |
| 51 | Oklahoma profile | $22.55 | $46,910 | $34,670 | $64,940 | 3,820 | 2.24 | 0.52 |
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2031 Carpenters.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.