Carpenters Salary

Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD

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Avg Median Salary

$56,100

Highest Paying City

San Jose

$81,000

Cities Tracked

60

What Do Carpenters Do?

Carpenters build, repair, and maintain structures and infrastructure using specialized skills and equipment. Their craftsmanship is essential to constructing the buildings, roads, and systems that communities depend on.

Most work outdoors on construction sites, often in varying weather conditions. The work is physically demanding and can be hazardous. Hours may be long during good weather or tight deadlines.

Key Skills for Carpenters

Blueprint ReadingPower ToolsPhysical StaminaSafety AwarenessMathematicsTeamwork

Education Requirements

High school diploma plus apprenticeship or trade school training

Most construction trades require a high school diploma followed by an apprenticeship program (typically 3-5 years) or vocational school training. Journeyman and master certifications are available in many trades.

Career Outlook

Employment is projected to grow about as fast as average, driven by ongoing construction of buildings, roads, and infrastructure, as well as the need for renovation and maintenance of existing structures.

How to Increase Your Carpenters Salary

  • 1.Obtain trade-specific licenses and certifications required in your area
  • 2.Develop skills in multiple trades for greater versatility
  • 3.Consider specializing in high-demand areas like green building or solar installation
  • 4.Pursue supervisory training to advance to foreman or project manager
  • 5.Stay current with building codes and safety regulations

Carpenters Salary by City

CityMedianAverageRange (10th-90th)Currency
San Jose, CA
$81,000
$88,000$49,000 - $105,000USDApply
San Francisco, CA
$79,000
$86,000$47,000 - $103,000USDApply
Seattle, WA
$72,000
$81,000$43,000 - $94,000USDApply
Boston, MA
$70,000
$78,000$46,000 - $88,000USDApply
New York, NY
$69,000
$74,000$45,000 - $87,000USDApply
Washington DC, DC
$69,000
$77,000$45,000 - $87,000USDApply
Los Angeles, CA
$66,000
$70,000$43,000 - $83,000USDApply
Austin, TX
$64,000
$71,000$42,000 - $81,000USDApply
San Diego, CA
$63,000
$69,000$41,000 - $80,000USDApply
Baltimore, MD
$63,000
$67,000$41,000 - $80,000USDApply
Honolulu, HI
$63,000
$67,000$41,000 - $80,000USDApply
Denver, CO
$62,000
$65,000$40,000 - $78,000USDApply
Philadelphia, PA
$61,000
$67,000$40,000 - $77,000USDApply
Hartford, CT
$61,000
$63,000$40,000 - $77,000USDApply
Minneapolis, MN
$60,000
$66,000$39,000 - $76,000USDApply
Portland, OR
$60,000
$66,000$39,000 - $76,000USDApply
Sacramento, CA
$60,000
$66,000$39,000 - $76,000USDApply
Anchorage, AK
$60,000
$64,000$39,000 - $76,000USDApply
Dallas, TX
$59,000
$61,000$38,000 - $74,000USDApply
Atlanta, GA
$59,000
$63,000$38,000 - $74,000USDApply
Chicago, IL
$58,000
$63,000$38,000 - $73,000USDApply
Raleigh, NC
$58,000
$61,000$38,000 - $73,000USDApply
Detroit, MI
$57,000
$61,000$37,000 - $72,000USDApply
Houston, TX
$56,000
$58,000$36,000 - $71,000USDApply
Phoenix, AZ
$56,000
$58,000$36,000 - $71,000USDApply
Salt Lake City, UT
$56,000
$60,000$36,000 - $71,000USDApply
Charlotte, NC
$55,000
$61,000$36,000 - $69,000USDApply
Pittsburgh, PA
$55,000
$59,000$36,000 - $69,000USDApply
Milwaukee, WI
$55,000
$60,000$36,000 - $69,000USDApply
Nashville, TN
$54,000
$60,000$35,000 - $68,000USDApply
Richmond, VA
$54,000
$57,000$35,000 - $68,000USDApply
Toronto, ON
$54,000
$60,000$35,000 - $68,000CADApply
Las Vegas, NV
$53,000
$54,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Tampa, FL
$53,000
$58,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Columbus, OH
$53,000
$58,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Indianapolis, IN
$53,000
$55,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
St. Louis, MO
$53,000
$54,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Kansas City, MO
$53,000
$54,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Cleveland, OH
$53,000
$59,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Cincinnati, OH
$53,000
$55,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Jacksonville, FL
$53,000
$59,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Louisville, KY
$53,000
$55,000$34,000 - $67,000USDApply
Miami, FL
$52,000
$58,000$34,000 - $66,000USDApply
Orlando, FL
$52,000
$58,000$34,000 - $66,000USDApply
Vancouver, BC
$52,000
$56,000$34,000 - $66,000CADApply
San Antonio, TX
$51,000
$53,000$33,000 - $64,000USDApply
New Orleans, LA
$51,000
$54,000$33,000 - $64,000USDApply
Buffalo, NY
$51,000
$53,000$33,000 - $64,000USDApply
Birmingham, AL
$51,000
$57,000$33,000 - $64,000USDApply
Calgary, AB
$51,000
$55,000$33,000 - $64,000CADApply
Oklahoma City, OK
$50,000
$55,000$32,000 - $63,000USDApply
Memphis, TN
$50,000
$54,000$32,000 - $63,000USDApply
Tucson, AZ
$50,000
$51,000$32,000 - $63,000USDApply
Ottawa, ON
$48,000
$50,000$31,000 - $61,000CADApply
Edmonton, AB
$47,000
$49,000$31,000 - $59,000CADApply
Montreal, QC
$45,000
$49,000$31,000 - $55,000CADApply
Hamilton, ON
$43,000
$45,000$30,000 - $53,000CADApply
Halifax, NS
$42,000
$44,000$29,000 - $51,000CADApply
Winnipeg, MB
$41,000
$43,000$29,000 - $50,000CADApply
Quebec City, QC
$40,000
$41,000$28,000 - $49,000CADApply