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Carpenter: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$60,580median pay per year, or $29.12 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $40,410lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,51025th percentile
  3. $60,580median
  4. $76,83075th percentile
  5. $99,910top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median carpenter earned $60,580 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.9%[2]
Openings per year
62,800[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do carpenters make?

The median pay for carpenters was $60,580 a year, or $29.12 an hour[1]. Half of carpenters earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $65,630 a year, or $31.55 an hour[7]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[4].

Pay varies a lot within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,410 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $48,510[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $76,830, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $99,910[3]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $19.43 and the 90th percentile was $48.03[8].

BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These figures also leave out self-employed carpenters, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 25.1% of carpenters were self-employed in 2025[11], so the wage data describes only part of the trade.

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest median pay for carpenters at $85,280 a year[12]. Illinois was second at $79,000 and California third at $75,920[12]. Oklahoma had the lowest median among the states and DC with published data, at $46,910[12].

California also had the most carpenter jobs, with 100,750[12][13]. New York had 40,630, Florida 39,300, Texas 33,540 and Pennsylvania 30,630[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kankakee, IL had the highest median at $95,280[14]. Urban Honolulu, HI followed at $94,310, then Michigan City-La Porte, IN at $91,970[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, with 34,210 jobs and a median of $74,300[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 30,600 jobs and a median of $75,740[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[12]$85,2804,810
Illinois$79,00019,570
California$75,920100,750
Massachusetts$75,20018,540
Washington$74,19026,960
Alaska$73,8602,560
New York$72,33040,630
Minnesota$64,93014,930
Connecticut$64,0605,160
New Jersey$64,01014,230
Maryland$62,9609,770
Indiana$62,87015,240
Oregon$62,87015,110
Colorado$62,83012,740
Vermont$62,4003,080
Nevada$62,38012,700
Maine$62,1605,170
District of Columbia$61,7101,540
Michigan$61,68018,590
Wisconsin$61,66013,880
New Hampshire$61,2003,760
Missouri$60,84014,410
Rhode Island$60,8402,580
Ohio$60,81018,450
New Mexico$59,7203,630
Pennsylvania$59,37030,630
Delaware$59,2002,250
Montana$58,8204,030
Arizona$58,58016,230
North Dakota$57,8902,360
Iowa$57,7105,770
Kansas$56,9605,210
Wyoming$56,8502,260
Virginia$55,69020,460
Kentucky$52,6808,540
Utah$52,36015,220
Idaho$52,0008,380
Tennessee$50,8308,200
South Carolina$50,6706,950
Nebraska$50,3205,710
Louisiana$49,9208,990
Florida$49,87039,300
Georgia$49,3509,190
North Carolina$49,10013,480
Texas$48,90033,540
West Virginia$48,7103,670
Mississippi$48,6502,950
Alabama$48,2205,560
South Dakota$48,1404,560
Arkansas$47,7604,030
Oklahoma$46,9103,820

How to become a carpenter

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education, no work experience in a related occupation, and apprenticeship as the typical training[6]. In an O*NET survey of 40 workers, 52% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, and 21% said a post-secondary certificate was[16].

1) Finish high school or an equivalent, where math and mechanical drawing classes may help[17]. 2) Learn on the job or through an apprenticeship, often starting with simple tasks such as measuring and cutting wood, then moving to reading blueprints and building wooden structures[18]. 3) If you choose an apprenticeship, groups such as unions and contractor associations sponsor them[19]. Each program year includes set hours of technical training and paid on-the-job training, and requirements differ by program and region[19]. 4) Complete the OSHA 10-hour safety course, which every carpenter must pass[19].

Some carpenters work as construction laborers or helpers first[20]. Some vocational-technical schools offer associate's degrees in carpentry, and the programs vary in length[17]. A driver's license may be needed to reach jobsites[21]. Optional certification by specialty may open more work or help with advancement[22].

With experience, carpenters may become first-line supervisors, lead carpenters, independent contractors or general construction supervisors[23]. Self-employed carpenters also need business skills such as bidding on jobs and directing workers[24].

What carpenters do

Carpenters build, install and repair structures and fixtures made of wood and similar materials[25]. Tasks listed by O*NET include:

Workers report job titles such as construction carpenter, finish carpenter, form carpenter and maintenance carpenter[27]. The work calls for precise cutting and measuring, good hand-eye coordination and teamwork[28][29][30].

Where they work

Carpenters work indoors and outdoors on many kinds of construction projects, from kitchen cabinets to highways and bridges[31]. They may work in cramped spaces and often switch between lifting, standing and kneeling[31]. Outdoor work depends on the weather, which can change a project's schedule[31].

Injuries happen. Strains from lifting and moving materials are one example, and falls, slips, trips and contact with equipment are others[32]. Carpenters often wear boots, hardhats, eye protection and reflective vests[32].

BLS says most carpenters work full time, and the hours may include evenings and weekends to meet client deadlines[33]. Self-employed workers were the largest employer group, at 25%[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects carpenter employment to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 889,700 to 924,700 jobs[2]. That is a gain of 35,000 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[35]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count of 670,090 carpenter jobs covers wage and salary jobs only[36].

BLS projects about 62,800 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.6% of carpenters leave the labor force and 3.9% move to a different occupation[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a trade with a median above the all-occupations median[1][4]. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent and no related work experience as the typical entry path, with apprenticeship as the typical training[6]. Pay differs by state, with medians from $46,910 to $85,280[12]. The work is physical, involves lifting and kneeling, and carries injury risks[31][32]. Projected growth is close to the all-occupations rate, and openings each year also come from workers who retire or change occupations[2][35][5]. These facts do not say how long an apprenticeship takes or what it costs, so check that locally.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a carpenter make an hour?
The median was $29.12 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $31.55[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $19.43 and the 90th was $48.03[8].
What education do you need to be a carpenter?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education, with apprenticeship as typical training[6].
Is carpentry in demand?
BLS projects 3.9% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, and about 62,800 openings a year[2][35][5].
What is the highest paying state for carpenters?
Hawaii, with a median of $85,280 a year, followed by Illinois at $79,000 and California at $75,920[12].
Do carpenters need a license?
BLS notes that carpenters may need a driver's license to travel to jobsites, and optional specialty certifications exist[21][22]. Every carpenter must pass the OSHA 10-hour safety course[19].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Carpenters in the US was $60,580 per year and $29.12 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Carpenters is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 889,700 to 924,700 jobs (a change of +35,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Carpenters: 10th percentile $40,410, 25th percentile $48,510, 75th percentile $76,830, 90th percentile $99,910. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 62,800 openings for Carpenters are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Carpenters: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Carpenters was $65,630 per year and $31.55 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Carpenters: 10th percentile $19.43, 25th percentile $23.32, 75th percentile $36.94, 90th percentile $48.03. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 25.1% of Carpenters were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Carpenters in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Carpenters jobs: California 100,750; New York 40,630; Florida 39,300; Texas 33,540; Pennsylvania 30,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Carpenters (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kankakee, IL $95,280; Urban Honolulu, HI $94,310; Michigan City-La Porte, IN $91,970; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $89,200; Decatur, IL $87,220; Fairbanks-College, AK $84,970; Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $84,430; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $82,110. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Carpenters jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 34,210 (median $74,300); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 30,600 (median $75,740); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 14,970 (median $76,410); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 14,260 (median $61,780); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 14,220 (median $80,440); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 14,010 (median $89,200). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 47-2031.00 survey of workers (40 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 52%, Post-Secondary Certificate 21%, Less than a High School Diploma 18%, Some College Courses 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Carpenters. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Carpenters. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 47-2031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bridge Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Carpentry Construction Specialist, Concrete Carpenter, Construction Carpenter, Finish Carpenter, Form Carpenter, Maintenance Carpenter. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of carpenters in 2025: Self-employed workers 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 670,090 people were employed as Carpenters in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Carpenters: 2.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.