How much does a carpenter make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical carpenter in the United States makes $60,580 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Carpenters measure and mark lumber, cut it with hand or power tools, then install frames, floors, trim, or cabinets. They check that structures are level and straight on construction or repair sites.
Did you know? Carpenters can build concrete forms as well as wooden frames and stairs—so their work isn’t limited to wood.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $40,410 and $99,910How do you become one?
In the US, high-school math and drawing can help, and some vocational schools offer carpentry programs. Most carpenters learn on the job or through an apprenticeship, starting with measuring and cutting before moving on to blueprints and building structures.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, carpenters with more experience or sought-after skills may earn more, and pay can differ by employer, industry, and location. Credentials and work hours—including overtime or shift differentials—can also affect pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Hawaii ($85,280), lowest in Oklahoma ($46,910).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
In Japan, a carpenter averages $32,366. Carpenter salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,410 | $60,580 | $99,910 | about 670,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 | about 5,000 |
| Illinois | $79,000 | about 20,000 |
| California | $75,920 | about 101,000 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | about 19,000 |
| Washington | $74,190 | about 27,000 |
Official definition: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2031.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY