Carpenters Salary in Tennessee
In Tennessee, carpenters earn a median $50,830 a year, well below the national median of $60,580 (−16%); the state ranks 38th of 51 states by median. Carpenters earn 7% more than the median across all occupations in Tennessee ($47,380). Among neighbouring states, Missouri, Virginia and Kentucky pay more (up to $60,840 in Missouri) and Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas pay less (down to $47,760 in Arkansas). Tennessee employs 8,200 carpenters, 2.50 per 1,000 jobs, the 28th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.58 means it is less common in Tennessee than nationally.
Tennessee vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $18.01 | $22.36 | $24.44 | $28.80 | $31.95 | $25.96 | 8,200 | 2.50 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $37,460 | $46,520 | $50,830 | $59,900 | $66,450 | $53,990 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 38th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 28th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.58
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.50
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Tennessee's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Tennessee
10 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Tennessee publish a row for carpenters, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $26.81 | $55,770 | $40,120 | $69,680 | 3,040 | 2.77 | 0.64 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24.41 | $50,760 | $37,310 | $66,000 | 620 | 2.30 | 0.53 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24.34 | $50,620 | $40,250 | $64,780 | 1,240 | 2.04 | 0.47 |
| Knoxville, TN | $24.23 | $50,400 | $36,600 | $70,100 | 1,280 | 3.02 | 0.70 |
| Morristown, TN | $23.61 | $49,110 | $35,950 | $66,830 | 130 | 2.69 | 0.62 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $23.60 | $49,080 | $36,270 | $65,060 | 290 | 2.81 | 0.65 |
| Cleveland, TN | $23.31 | $48,480 | $39,230 | $64,410 | 80 | 1.84 | 0.43 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $23.24 | $48,340 | $36,320 | $64,270 | 390 | 3.25 | 0.75 |
| Jackson, TN | $23.05 | $47,950 | $36,400 | $62,590 | 170 | 1.96 | 0.45 |
| Johnson City, TN | $23.04 | $47,920 | $38,400 | $64,050 | 160 | 1.92 | 0.44 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $23.46 | $48,800 | $35,350 | $59,880 | 240 | 2.01 | 0.47 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $22.90 | $47,630 | $28,490 | $60,030 | 250 | 1.75 | 0.41 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $22.25 | $46,270 | $35,640 | $62,340 | 290 | 2.60 | 0.60 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $22.15 | $46,080 | $32,000 | $62,260 | 320 | 2.80 | 0.65 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $24.44 | $50,830 | 8,200 | 0.58 |
| Alabama | $23.18 | $48,220 | 5,560 | 0.61 |
| Arkansas | $22.96 | $47,760 | 4,030 | 0.72 |
| Georgia | $23.72 | $49,350 | 9,190 | 0.44 |
| Kentucky | $25.33 | $52,680 | 8,540 | 0.99 |
| Missouri | $29.25 | $60,840 | 14,410 | 1.14 |
| Mississippi | $23.39 | $48,650 | 2,950 | 0.59 |
| North Carolina | $23.61 | $49,100 | 13,480 | 0.63 |
| Virginia | $26.77 | $55,690 | 20,460 | 1.16 |
See the national page for Carpenters (every state ranked) and the Tennessee wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Tennessee estimates.
- 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.