USLivingCost Salaries · Rent · Cost of Living

Carpenters salary in Norfolk, VA

Carpenters in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan area earn a median of $51,500 a year, an average of $54,350. About 4,020 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Carpenters pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$51,500
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$54,350
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$38,940
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$73,460
Top of the range
People employed
4,020
In Norfolk metro area
Rent share of median wage
29.0%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Norfolk

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,246
per month, in Norfolk, VA
Income needed for median rent
$49,800
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median carpenters wage
$51,500
3.4% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
29.0%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$64,017
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Norfolk area. Read the Norfolk, VA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Carpenters pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Arlington, VA
+18.1%
Median $60,800
Mean $66,790
Employed 13,280
Boise City, ID
-1.3%
Median $50,850
Mean $56,350
Employed 4,080
Spokane, WA
+20.2%
Median $61,900
Mean $67,510
Employed 2,020
Fremont, CA
+73.2%
Median $89,200
Mean $89,630
Employed 14,010
Richmond, VA
+0.7%
Median $51,870
Mean $53,520
Employed 3,070
Baton Rouge, LA
+8.0%
Median $55,630
Mean $54,590
Employed 3,490
San Bernardino, CA
+37.6%
Median $70,880
Mean $73,520
Employed 12,970
Tacoma, WA
+48.4%
Median $76,410
Mean $84,060
Employed 14,970

See carpenters pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

$
$
Gross annual income $51,500 / year
$51,500
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
—
State income tax Virginia (VA)
—
FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
—
Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
—
Take-home per paycheck Monthly
—
Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
—

Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Carpenters salary in Norfolk, VA: FAQ

How much do carpenters make in Norfolk, VA?

The median salary for carpenters in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $51,500 a year (about $25 an hour for full-time work). The average is $54,350, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $51,500 a good salary for carpenters in Norfolk, VA?

Yes. It is above the $49,800 needed to keep the median rent of $1,246 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 29.0% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid carpenters earn in Norfolk, VA?

The top 10% earn more than $73,460 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $38,940.

How many carpenters work in Norfolk, VA?

About 4,020 people work in this occupation in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.