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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Carpenter actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $60,522 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $43,160 to $110,240. The $42,366 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
A career as a Carpenter sits at the intersection of Construction and Construction & Trades. Most professionals enter with Apprenticeship, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is job-site. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$67,080 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Carpenter in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $110,240 — $67,080 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($43,160). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The salary distribution for Carpenters reveals a $42,366 spread from entry to senior. At $60,522, the median sits $19,845 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $43,576 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $85,942 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $102,960 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $43,507 (average of the bottom 3). That $59,453 delta is real money — $4,954/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Carpenter in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $110,240 — $67,080 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($43,160). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Carpenter is $43,576, while senior-level (P90) earners average $85,942. That $42,366 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $43,576 | $60,522 | $85,942 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £23,951 | £33,266 | £47,237 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$37,854 | CA$52,575 | CA$74,656 |
| Australia | 13 | A$46,939 | A$65,193 | A$92,574 |
| Sweden | 24 | 259,252 kr | 360,073 kr | 511,303 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $52,594 | $73,047 | $103,727 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $50,825 | $70,590 | $100,238 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $50,544 | $70,200 | $99,684 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $46,800 | $65,000 | $92,300 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $46,238 | $64,220 | $91,192 |
| Washington | 8 | $45,349 | $62,985 | $89,439 |
| New York | 5 | $42,681 | $59,280 | $84,177 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $42,682 | $59,280 | $84,178 |
| Florida | 22 | $42,358 | $58,831 | $83,540 |
| Colorado | 11 | $41,627 | $57,815 | $82,097 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $41,558 | $57,720 | $81,962 |
| Nevada | 5 | $41,483 | $57,616 | $81,815 |
| Arizona | 12 | $41,278 | $57,330 | $81,409 |
| Oregon | 5 | $41,184 | $57,200 | $81,224 |
| Idaho | 3 | $41,059 | $57,027 | $80,978 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $40,735 | $56,576 | $80,338 |
| Utah | 4 | $40,622 | $56,420 | $80,116 |
| Virginia | 7 | $39,954 | $55,491 | $78,798 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $39,437 | $54,773 | $77,778 |
| Alaska | 1 | $39,312 | $54,600 | $77,532 |
| Illinois | 5 | $38,863 | $53,976 | $76,646 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $37,898 | $52,636 | $74,743 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $37,440 | $52,000 | $73,840 |
| Montana | 1 | $37,440 | $52,000 | $73,840 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $37,315 | $51,827 | $73,594 |
| Texas | 40 | $37,131 | $51,571 | $73,231 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $37,066 | $51,480 | $73,102 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $36,879 | $51,220 | $72,733 |
| Georgia | 6 | $36,754 | $51,047 | $72,486 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $36,691 | $50,960 | $72,363 |
| Kansas | 4 | $36,504 | $50,700 | $71,994 |
| Michigan | 6 | $36,379 | $50,527 | $71,748 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $35,943 | $49,920 | $70,887 |
| Maryland | 1 | $35,942 | $49,920 | $70,886 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $35,568 | $49,400 | $70,148 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $35,568 | $49,400 | $70,148 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $34,632 | $48,100 | $68,302 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $34,445 | $47,840 | $67,933 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $33,977 | $47,190 | $67,010 |
| Missouri | 4 | $33,977 | $47,190 | $67,010 |
| Alabama | 5 | $33,846 | $47,008 | $66,752 |
| Indiana | 3 | $33,322 | $46,280 | $65,718 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $33,322 | $46,280 | $65,718 |
| Iowa | 2 | $32,947 | $45,760 | $64,979 |
| Ohio | 6 | $32,885 | $45,673 | $64,856 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $31,450 | $43,680 | $62,026 |
The state salary map for Carpenters: California at $73,047, Massachusetts at $70,590, Hawaii at $70,200 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($43,680), Ohio ($45,673), Iowa ($45,760) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $29,367.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($110,240 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $52,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $110,240 | 212 | $52,000 | $67,645 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $102,960 | 198 | $52,000 | $63,637 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $95,680 | 184 | $52,000 | $59,532 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $94,120 | 181 | $52,000 | $58,642 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $92,560 | 178 | $52,000 | $57,752 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $92,040 | 177 | $52,000 | $57,456 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $92,040 | 177 | $52,000 | $57,456 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $89,960 | 173 | $52,000 | $56,269 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $89,960 | 173 | $52,000 | $56,269 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $87,880 | 169 | $52,000 | $55,083 |
Career economics for Carpenters: entry level averages $43,576, mid-career hits $60,522, and experienced professionals reach $85,942. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Apprenticeship, and the work is job-site. The outlook: growing. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The weighted national median salary for Carpenters is $60,522 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $43,576, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $85,942.
The highest-paying city for Carpenters is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $110,240. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($110,240), Santa Clara ($102,960), Irvine ($95,680). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Carpenter salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $43,160. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Carpenters (10th percentile) average $43,576 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $79,373. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Carpenters average $85,942 nationally — $42,366 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Carpenters can earn up to $156,541.
The top-paying states for Carpenters are California ($73,047 median), Massachusetts ($70,590 median), Hawaii ($70,200 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Carpenter involves Apprenticeship. The field is in the Construction & Trades sector (Construction), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically job-site.
With a national median of $60,522 and representation across 288 metro areas, Carpenter offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $42,366 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.