Carpenter Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) carpenter in the US earns $29.12 an hour, or $60,580 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 670,090 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,510 and $76,830 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $99,910.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $50,856 a year ($4,238 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Hawaii ($63,480 a year) and lowest in Oklahoma ($38,304).
Carpenter pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $19.43 | $40,410 | $34,649 |
| 25th percentile | $23.32 | $48,510 | $41,158 |
| Median (half earn more) | $29.12 | $60,580 | $50,856 |
| 75th percentile | $36.94 | $76,830 | $62,880 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $48.03 | $99,910 | $79,116 |
The average (mean) is $65,630 a year ($31.55 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2031. Source
Carpenter salary by state
The highest median pay for carpenters is in Hawaii ($85,280), Illinois ($79,000), California ($75,920), Massachusetts ($75,210), Washington ($74,190). The lowest is in Oklahoma ($46,900), Arkansas ($47,760), South Dakota ($48,130).
The most carpenters work in California (100,750), New York (40,630), Florida (39,300).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Hawaii ($63,480), Illinois ($60,641), Alaska ($60,421), Washington ($59,993), Massachusetts ($58,141). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.18 | $48,210 | $38,926 | 5,560 |
| Alaska | $35.51 | $73,860 | $60,421 | 2,560 |
| Arizona | $28.17 | $58,590 | $48,085 | 16,230 |
| Arkansas | $22.96 | $47,760 | $39,277 | 4,030 |
| California | $36.50 | $75,920 | $58,120 | 100,750 |
| Colorado | $30.21 | $62,840 | $49,872 | 12,740 |
| Connecticut | $30.80 | $64,060 | $50,537 | 5,160 |
| Delaware | $28.46 | $59,200 | $46,901 | 2,250 |
| District of Columbia | $29.67 | $61,710 | $51,764* | 1,540 |
| Florida | $23.98 | $49,880 | $42,259 | 39,300 |
| Georgia | $23.72 | $49,340 | $40,111 | 9,190 |
| Hawaii | $41.00 | $85,280 | $63,480 | 4,810 |
| Idaho | $25.00 | $52,000 | $42,064 | 8,380 |
| Illinois | $37.98 | $79,000 | $60,641 | 19,570 |
| Indiana | $30.23 | $62,880 | $49,629 | 15,240 |
| Iowa | $27.75 | $57,720 | $46,899 | 5,770 |
| Kansas | $27.39 | $56,970 | $45,576 | 5,210 |
| Kentucky | $25.33 | $52,690 | $42,790 | 8,540 |
| Louisiana | $24.00 | $49,920 | $41,146 | 8,990 |
| Maine | $29.88 | $62,150 | $49,103 | 5,170 |
| Maryland | $30.27 | $62,960 | $48,288 | 9,770 |
| Massachusetts | $36.16 | $75,210 | $58,141 | 18,540 |
| Michigan | $29.66 | $61,690 | $49,377 | 18,590 |
| Minnesota | $31.22 | $64,940 | $50,460 | 14,930 |
| Mississippi | $23.39 | $48,650 | $40,048 | 2,950 |
| Missouri | $29.25 | $60,840 | $49,141 | 14,410 |
| Montana | $28.28 | $58,820 | $47,440 | 4,030 |
| Nebraska | $24.19 | $50,320 | $40,922 | 5,710 |
| Nevada | $29.99 | $62,380 | $52,302 | 12,700 |
| New Hampshire | $29.42 | $61,190 | $51,346 | 3,760 |
| New Jersey | $30.77 | $64,000 | $50,792 | 14,230 |
| New Mexico | $28.71 | $59,720 | $48,146 | 3,630 |
| New York | $34.77 | $72,320 | $56,023 | 40,630 |
| North Carolina | $23.61 | $49,110 | $40,158 | 13,480 |
| North Dakota | $27.83 | $57,890 | $48,695 | 2,360 |
| Ohio | $29.24 | $60,820 | $49,612 | 18,450 |
| Oklahoma | $22.55 | $46,900 | $38,304 | 3,820 |
| Oregon | $30.23 | $62,880 | $48,069 | 15,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.54 | $59,360 | $48,012 | 30,630 |
| Rhode Island | $29.25 | $60,840 | $48,152 | 2,580 |
| South Carolina | $24.36 | $50,670 | $41,113 | 6,950 |
| South Dakota | $23.14 | $48,130 | $40,852 | 4,560 |
| Tennessee | $24.44 | $50,840 | $43,030 | 8,200 |
| Texas | $23.51 | $48,900 | $41,471 | 33,540 |
| Utah | $25.17 | $52,350 | $41,903 | 15,220 |
| Vermont | $30.00 | $62,400 | $50,397 | 3,080 |
| Virginia | $26.77 | $55,680 | $44,531 | 20,460 |
| Washington | $35.67 | $74,190 | $59,993 | 26,960 |
| West Virginia | $23.42 | $48,710 | $39,929 | 3,670 |
| Wisconsin | $29.65 | $61,670 | $48,868 | 13,880 |
| Wyoming | $27.33 | $56,850 | $47,859 | 2,260 |
Overtime and pay rules for carpenters
Carpenters who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a carpenter's pay
On the median $60,580, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.1% of pay for a single filer: $5,090 of income tax and $4,634 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $44,480, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,029 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $363, so it costs about $2,666 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed carpenters are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC Technician | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Correctional Officer | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 | $28.19 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $29 an hour is how much a year.
Carpenter salary questions
How much does a carpenter make?
The median pay is $29.12 an hour, or $60,580 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $40,410 and the top 10% more than $99,910.
How much does a carpenter make after taxes?
About $50,856 a year, or $1,956 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Oklahoma, at that state's own median pay, it is about $38,304.
How much does a carpenter make a month?
About $5,048 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,238 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays carpenters the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $85,280 a year ($41 an hour). Next are Illinois ($79,000) and California ($75,920). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Hawaii.
How much does a carpenter make an hour?
The median is $29.12 an hour. The middle half earn $23.32 to $36.94, and the top 10% more than $48.03.
Do carpenters get paid overtime?
Carpenters who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
More trades and construction salaries
Elevator Mechanic · Lineman (Power Line Worker) · Plumber · Electrician · HVAC Technician · Truck Driver · Welder · Auto Mechanic · Construction Laborer
All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.