Carpenters salary by city
Median pay for carpenters in 103 metropolitan areas covered by this index, measured by the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). The median annual wage runs from $41,540 in Laredo, TX to $94,310 in Urban Honolulu, HI.
Carpenters pay at a glance
Highest median wage
$94,310
Urban Honolulu, HI
Lowest median wage
$41,540
Laredo, TX
Midpoint of the range
$60,650
half the covered metros pay more, half pay less
People employed
717,950
across the covered metropolitan areas
Median wage covers the median rent
60 of 103
metros where the wage keeps rent at 30% of gross pay or less
Typical rent share
28.7%
median rent as a share of the median wage, averaged over the metros
Median carpenters wage by city
Sorted from the highest median wage to the lowest
| City | Median wage | Mean wage | Employment | Rent share | vs. midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $89,400 | 3,120 | 22.7% | +55.5% |
| San Francisco, CA | $89,200 | $89,630 | 14,010 | 32.5% | +47.1% |
| Oakland, CA | $89,200 | $89,630 | 14,010 | 25.8% | +47.1% |
| Fremont, CA | $89,200 | $89,630 | 14,010 | 39.1% | +47.1% |
| Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $83,110 | 14,220 | 20.6% | +32.6% |
| San Jose, CA | $80,190 | $87,930 | 4,460 | 39.2% | +32.2% |
| Seattle, WA | $76,410 | $84,060 | 14,970 | 31.4% | +26.0% |
| Tacoma, WA | $76,410 | $84,060 | 14,970 | 25.1% | +26.0% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $75,740 | $78,600 | 30,600 | 29.8% | +24.9% |
| Long Beach, CA | $75,740 | $78,600 | 30,600 | 28.6% | +24.9% |
| Anaheim, CA | $75,740 | $78,600 | 30,600 | 33.0% | +24.9% |
| Boston, MA | $75,210 | $81,260 | 12,720 | 33.4% | +24.0% |
| Sacramento, CA | $74,440 | $73,480 | 9,730 | 27.3% | +22.7% |
| New York, NY | $74,300 | $80,560 | 34,210 | 28.7% | +22.5% |
| Newark, NJ | $74,300 | $80,560 | 34,210 | 21.5% | +22.5% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $74,300 | $80,560 | 34,210 | 30.7% | +22.5% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $74,060 | $74,570 | 10,200 | 21.5% | +22.1% |
| St. Paul, MN | $74,060 | $74,570 | 10,200 | 20.2% | +22.1% |
| Modesto, CA | $73,730 | $74,640 | 1,430 | 26.2% | +21.6% |
| Portland, OR | $73,710 | $77,940 | 9,210 | 26.0% | +21.5% |
| San Diego, CA | $73,200 | $77,240 | 8,710 | 36.4% | +20.7% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $73,200 | $77,240 | 8,710 | 34.8% | +20.7% |
| Worcester, MA | $73,010 | $74,020 | 1,590 | 23.3% | +20.4% |
| Anchorage, AK | $72,800 | $78,640 | 1,460 | 24.0% | +20.0% |
| St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $71,600 | 7,210 | 16.5% | +17.0% |
| Riverside, CA | $70,880 | $73,520 | 12,970 | 30.7% | +16.9% |
| San Bernardino, CA | $70,880 | $73,520 | 12,970 | 24.3% | +16.9% |
| Stockton, CA | $69,160 | $73,330 | 1,260 | 25.9% | +14.0% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $66,540 | $71,400 | 1,100 | 24.7% | +9.7% |
| Columbus, OH | $66,480 | $67,650 | 3,620 | 22.1% | +9.6% |
| Detroit, MI | $65,810 | $66,770 | 7,610 | 18.9% | +8.5% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $65,070 | $66,960 | 4,960 | 20.5% | +7.3% |
| Denver, CO | $64,910 | $68,130 | 7,250 | 32.7% | +7.0% |
| Aurora, CO | $64,910 | $68,130 | 7,250 | 32.5% | +7.0% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $63,910 | $68,240 | 3,310 | 19.4% | +5.4% |
| Buffalo, NY | $63,500 | $64,630 | 2,440 | 18.7% | +4.7% |
| Madison, WI | $63,480 | $68,120 | 2,320 | 25.8% | +4.7% |
| Fresno, CA | $63,470 | $71,030 | 1,790 | 25.0% | +4.6% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $69,690 | 9,310 | 28.0% | +2.9% |
| Baltimore, MD | $62,380 | $64,560 | 3,870 | 24.8% | +2.9% |
| Henderson, NV | $62,380 | $69,690 | 9,310 | 33.7% | +2.9% |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $69,690 | 9,310 | 30.9% | +2.9% |
| Reno, NV | $62,350 | $67,270 | 2,750 | 28.0% | +2.8% |
| Spokane, WA | $61,900 | $67,510 | 2,020 | 22.1% | +2.1% |
| Kansas City, MO | $61,810 | $67,500 | 4,540 | 23.0% | +1.9% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $61,780 | $65,930 | 14,260 | 25.7% | +1.9% |
| Des Moines, IA | $61,360 | $61,450 | 1,810 | 20.6% | +1.2% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,180 | $66,520 | 5,920 | 23.9% | +0.9% |
| Toledo, OH | $61,070 | $62,580 | 980 | 17.3% | +0.7% |
| Washington, DC | $60,800 | $66,790 | 13,280 | 37.5% | average |
| Arlington, VA | $60,800 | $66,790 | 13,280 | 44.9% | average |
| Cleveland, OH | $60,650 | $65,210 | 3,280 | 17.7% | average |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $60,400 | $60,940 | 1,240 | 19.1% | average |
| Phoenix, AZ | $60,320 | $60,380 | 12,710 | 29.0% | -0.5% |
| Mesa, AZ | $60,320 | $60,380 | 12,710 | 29.4% | -0.5% |
| Chandler, AZ | $60,320 | $60,380 | 12,710 | 35.9% | -0.5% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $60,110 | $62,110 | 4,610 | 19.0% | -0.9% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $60,080 | $59,310 | 1,940 | 21.7% | -0.9% |
| Rochester, NY | $59,490 | $62,720 | 2,350 | 21.0% | -1.9% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $57,430 | $61,230 | 1,220 | 32.6% | -5.3% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $56,520 | $57,480 | 2,990 | 22.7% | -6.8% |
| Nashville-Davidson, TN | $55,770 | $56,730 | 3,040 | 32.0% | -8.0% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $55,630 | $54,590 | 3,490 | 22.5% | -8.3% |
| Omaha, NE | $52,800 | $56,590 | 3,230 | 26.1% | -12.9% |
| Tampa, FL | $52,130 | $54,270 | 6,010 | 36.1% | -14.0% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $52,130 | $54,270 | 6,010 | 35.5% | -14.0% |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $52,030 | $55,630 | 1,200 | 25.4% | -14.2% |
| Richmond, VA | $51,870 | $53,520 | 3,070 | 30.4% | -14.5% |
| Miami, FL | $51,570 | $54,030 | 10,100 | 38.6% | -15.0% |
| Durham, NC | $51,540 | $52,650 | 520 | 32.9% | -15.0% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $51,500 | $54,350 | 4,020 | 38.4% | -15.1% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $51,500 | $54,350 | 4,020 | 35.5% | -15.1% |
| Norfolk, VA | $51,500 | $54,350 | 4,020 | 29.0% | -15.1% |
| Charlotte, NC | $50,960 | $53,450 | 3,730 | 35.4% | -16.0% |
| Wichita, KS | $50,930 | $55,750 | 1,210 | 22.6% | -16.0% |
| Boise City, ID | $50,850 | $56,350 | 4,080 | 32.1% | -16.2% |
| Raleigh, NC | $50,820 | $51,460 | 2,680 | 34.7% | -16.2% |
| Atlanta, GA | $50,680 | $51,610 | 6,380 | 38.3% | -16.4% |
| Memphis, TN | $50,620 | $53,370 | 1,240 | 26.6% | -16.5% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $50,540 | $53,230 | 2,500 | 32.6% | -16.7% |
| Austin, TX | $50,260 | $53,850 | 2,540 | 39.5% | -17.1% |
| New Orleans, LA | $50,130 | $53,310 | 1,390 | 29.0% | -17.3% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $49,940 | $51,100 | 510 | 24.8% | -17.7% |
| Greensboro, NC | $49,910 | $50,430 | 760 | 26.8% | -17.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $49,910 | $53,300 | 1,020 | 25.1% | -17.7% |
| Orlando, FL | $49,750 | $51,410 | 5,360 | 39.8% | -18.0% |
| Houston, TX | $49,670 | $53,000 | 9,600 | 31.7% | -18.1% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $49,210 | $52,220 | 2,640 | 42.7% | -18.9% |
| Tucson, AZ | $49,110 | $53,970 | 1,380 | 26.4% | -19.0% |
| Huntsville, AL | $48,970 | $51,600 | 430 | 26.4% | -19.3% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,940 | $53,110 | 1,420 | 26.6% | -19.3% |
| San Antonio, TX | $48,900 | $49,470 | 2,240 | 30.9% | -19.4% |
| Dallas, TX | $48,740 | $50,240 | 9,480 | 34.5% | -19.6% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $48,740 | $50,240 | 9,480 | 34.8% | -19.6% |
| Arlington, TX | $48,740 | $50,240 | 9,480 | 34.2% | -19.6% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $48,640 | $51,010 | 1,060 | 43.9% | -19.8% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $47,200 | $51,460 | 1,250 | 31.3% | -22.2% |
| Tulsa, OK | $46,810 | $48,610 | 1,320 | 25.6% | -22.8% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $46,800 | $49,230 | 280 | 30.2% | -22.8% |
| Columbus, GA | $45,070 | $45,650 | 140 | 28.5% | -25.7% |
| Lubbock, TX | $43,500 | $44,570 | 280 | 31.4% | -28.3% |
| El Paso, TX | $42,430 | $44,380 | 620 | 29.4% | -30.0% |
| Laredo, TX | $41,540 | $43,380 | 100 | 28.9% | -31.5% |
Every row comes from the same survey, so the differences between cities are measured differences rather than estimates made here. "Rent share" compares each metro's median carpenters wage with the median gross rent of the city of the same name, which is not the same area. See the methodology before reading small gaps as real.
Definitions used on this page
- Median wage
- The wage that half the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than. It is less sensitive to a few very high earners than the mean.
- Mean wage
- The average of all reported wages in the occupation, for one year of work.
- Employment
- The estimated number of jobs in the occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.
- Metropolitan area
- Wages are published for metro areas, which usually take in the city and its suburbs. The city figures on the cost of living pages cover only the city limits.
Source
The survey covers jobs, not people: one worker holding two jobs is counted twice, and self-employed workers are not counted at all. Pay is reported for the year as a whole, so a single employer can sit well above or below the median.
See every occupation covered, or compare living costs in the state pages.