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Carpenter salary in California

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$75,920median pay per year in California, or $36.50 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $47,490lowest 10% earn less
  2. $59,74025th percentile
  3. $75,920median
  4. $95,83075th percentile
  5. $119,950top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $60,580[3]

The median carpenter in California earned $75,920 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $15,340 above the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
100,750[4]
Rank by median pay
3 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+25.3%[6]

How much do carpenters make in California?

The median pay for a carpenter in California was $75,920 a year, or $36.50 an hour[1]. Half of the workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $78,810 a year[7]. Across the US the median was $60,580[3], so California's figure was $15,340 (25.3%) higher[6]. Among all jobs in the state the median was $58,240[8], and carpenters were $17,680 above it[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,490[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $119,950[2]. The middle half earned between $59,740 and $95,830[2].

By metro area, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $89,200[10]. Santa Rosa-Petaluma was at $80,520 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $80,190[11]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, which had 30,600 carpenter jobs, was at $75,740[11]. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario was at $70,880[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for carpenters in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$75,920[1]$60,580[3]
Median per hour$36.50[1]$29.12[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$47,490[2]$40,410[13]
Top 10% earn more than$119,950[2]$99,910[13]
Jobs100,750[4]670,090[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for carpenters, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$75,74030,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$89,20014,010
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$70,88012,970
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$74,4409,730
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$73,2008,710
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$80,1904,460
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$80,5202,150
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$74,0602,050

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for carpenters in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$62,87015,110
Nevada$62,38012,700
Arizona$58,58016,230

Median pay for carpenters in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for carpenters are projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a carpenter make in California?
The median carpenter in California earned $75,920 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $78,810 a year[7].
How much does a carpenter make an hour in California?
The median was $36.50 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $22.83 an hour and the 90th percentile wage was $57.67[17].
Which city in California pays carpenters the most?
Of the 25 metro areas with a published median, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest at $89,200 a year[10].
Is California a good state for carpenters?
California had the 3rd highest median annual wage for carpenters among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $15,340 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a carpenter in California?
Across the US, the typical entry path is a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience and an apprenticeship[16]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Carpenters in California was $75,920 per year and $36.50 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Carpenters in California: 10th percentile $47,490, 25th percentile $59,740, 75th percentile $95,830, 90th percentile $119,950. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Carpenters in the US as a whole was $60,580 per year and $29.12 per hour, with about 670,090 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 100,750 people worked as Carpenters in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 3rd highest median annual wage for Carpenters out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Carpenters in California ($75,920) was $15,340 (25.3%) higher than the US median ($60,580). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Carpenters in California was $78,810 per year and $37.89 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Carpenters in California was $17,680 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Carpenters, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $89,200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Carpenters in the US: 10th percentile $40,410, 25th percentile $48,510, 75th percentile $76,830, 90th percentile $99,910. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Carpenters in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $62,870; Nevada $62,380; Arizona $58,580. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Carpenters is projected to grow 3.9% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 62,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Carpenters in California: 10th percentile $22.83, 25th percentile $28.72, 75th percentile $46.07, 90th percentile $57.67. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.