Whether it’s residential and commercial framework construction or the design and installation of a cabinetry system, carpenter skills are required to complete dozens of contracting projects. Alongside many other trades, such as plumbing and electrical, the demand for carpenters is simply not one that is not slated to slow down anytime soon.
If you own and operate a contracting company and are in need of new carpenters to add to the team, it’s important to ensure these professionals are paid fairly — especially in such a competitive job market. But with carpenter salary averages varying from location to location, it’s never been more important to conduct salary research before listing a new position.
From the local cost of living to the general demand for carpenters in your area, there are numerous factors that can impact the average salary of a carpenter. Whether your company operates throughout rural Wyoming or in the busy city center of New York, FieldPulse has you covered with a state-to-state carpenter average base salary breakdown.
How Much Does a Carpenter Make On an Average Salary?
According to 2022 job salary data, the typical carpenter professional operating in the United States has a national average salary of $59,884 a year.
The national average infers that this amount has been calculated with carpenter salaries from across the country. As just an average, this figure signals to those looking to hire a carpenter that they may need to adjust their salary based on their location. A variety of local factors, such as the general cost of living and job availability, can increase or decrease a carpenter’s salary.
Likewise, business owners can anticipate that a carpenter’s salary may increase based on the specific skills and experience level required for the position. Professionals who have undergone continued education or further licensing are often paid more than the median salary of their less-experienced or less-certified carpenter counterparts.
Factors aside, a good starting point when developing salary offerings for carpenter jobs is to understand your local average. Keep reading for a state-by-state average salary breakdown.
Average Carpenter Salary by State
With a national average wage amount of $59,884 per year, it’s important for those in the process of hiring a carpenter to compare this median amount to their specific state average. Thorough knowledge of how your local averages stack up against national averages will help ensure any prospective employees are paid fairly for their talents.
For the average carpenter’s annual salary in your state, refer to the list below:
- Alabama: $52,235
- Alaska: $72,776
- Arizona: $60,103
- Arkansas: $51,614
- California: $72,723
- Colorado: $60,838
- Connecticut: $63,547
- Delaware: $58,674
- Florida: $53,925
- Georgia: $53,943
- Hawaii: $70,054
- Idaho: $57,414
- Illinois: $63,009
- Indiana: $55,934
- Iowa: $58,081
- Kansas: $56,358
- Kentucky: $54,294
- Louisiana: $53,341
- Maine: $63,208
- Maryland: $60,976
- Massachusetts: $69,283
- Michigan: $57,546
- Minnesota: $63,673
- Mississippi: $51,570
- Missouri: $57,002
- Montana: $60,521
- Nebraska: $63,036
- Nevada: $58,593
- New Hampshire: $64,544
- New Jersey: $63,618
- New Mexico: $56,253
- New York: $62,215
- North Carolina: $53,404
- North Dakota: $59,198
- Ohio: $60,249
- Oklahoma: $45,530
- Oregon: $63,650
- Pennsylvania: $58,613
- Rhode Island: $63,970
- South Carolina: $50,121
- South Dakota: $58,271
- Tennessee: $61,685
- Texas: $51,779
- Utah: $55,149
- Vermont: $60,067
- Virginia: $55,679
- Washington: $71,506
- West Virginia: $50,143
- Wisconsin: $61,149
- Wyoming: $63,052
How Much Do Carpenters Earn Per Hour?
According to 2022 carpenter salary data, a U.S-based carpeting professional holds an average hourly pay of $23.29.
As with those looking to offer full-time salaries, employers who chose to pay workers on an hourly basis must remain mindful of the compensation differences from state to state. Just like average salaries, average hourly earnings rely on local factors that range from the cost of living to the demand of skilled carpenter labor.
For a better understanding of what carpenters make on average per hour in your state, refer to the list below.
- Alabama: $20.32
- Alaska: $28.31
- Arizona: $23.38
- Arkansas: $20.08
- California: $28.68
- Colorado: $23.67
- Connecticut: $24.72
- Delaware: $22.82
- Florida: $20.98
- Georgia: $20.98
- Hawaii: $27.25
- Idaho: $22.33
- Illinois: $24.51
- Indiana: $21.76
- Iowa: $22.59
- Kansas: $21.92
- Kentucky: $21.12
- Louisiana: $20.75
- Maine: $24.59
- Maryland: $23.72
- Massachusetts: $26.95
- Michigan: $22.38
- Minnesota: $24.77
- Mississippi: $20.06
- Missouri: $22.17
- Montana: $23.54
- Nebraska: $24.52
- Nevada: $22.79
- New Hampshire: $25.11
- New Jersey: $24.75
- New Mexico: $21.88
- New York: $24.20
- North Carolina: $20.77
- North Dakota: $23.03
- Ohio: $23.44
- Oklahoma: $17.71
- Oregon: $24.76
- Pennsylvania: $22.80
- Rhode Island: $24.88
- South Carolina: $19.50
- South Dakota: $22.67
- Tennessee: $23.99
- Texas: $20.14
- Utah: $21.45
- Vermont: $23.37
- Virginia: $21.66
- Washington: $27.82
- West Virginia: $19.51
- Wisconsin: $23.79
- Wyoming: $24.53
Where Are the Highest Salary Averages for Carpenters?
Across the United States, the locations with the highest average pay rates for carpenter professionals are Alaska, California, and Washington. Unlike below-average salary locations like South Carolina, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, these leading salary averages can be attributed to higher living costs and a larger demand for carpenter professionals.
Beyond these general state-to-state salary averages, jobs requiring a carpenter applicant with specific skills and experience level should anticipate higher salary expectations. As previously mentioned, with more professional experience and formal training comes increased value in a carpenter, driving higher salary expectations.
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Carpenters
From a higher cost of living to an increased demand for carpenter professionals, it’s clear that average yearly and hourly wage amounts can vary significantly from state to state. As such, certain states boast median salaries that are drastically above the national average.
For a better perspective of the highest paying locations, here are the 10 highest paying states for carpenter professionals.
- Alaska: $72,776/year, $28.31 per hour
- California: $72,723/year, $28.68 per hour
- Washington: $71,506/year, $27.82per hour
- Hawaii: $70,054/year, $27.25 per hour
- Massachusetts: $69,283/year, $26.95 per hour
- New Hampshire: $64,544/year, $25.11 per hour
- Rhode Island: $63,970/year, $24.88 per hour
- Minnesota: $63,673/year, $24.77 per hour
- Oregon: $63,650/year, $24.76 per hour
- Connecticut: $63,547/year, $24.72 per hour
Is Carpentry in High Demand?
Of the many trades on the market, carpenters make up the largest percentile of the building industry. In recent years, a booming housing market has contributed to more new-home construction as well as more renovation and remodeling projects in the residential space. Likewise, with COVID-19 tensions easing up, commercial property construction like hotels and retail space is regaining momentum, especially in some of the highest paying cities.
Because of this uptick in construction requests, the demand for carpenters is also through the roof. According to current market data, the carpenter job market is expected to grow by 8.2% between 2016 and 2026. With increased demand, employers and prospective employees can also expect a bit more competition when looking to fill that carpenter job title in years to come.
FieldPulse for Carpenters
For contractors and construction companies looking to add a few carpenters to the team, it’s important to keep operations afloat as you navigate the time-consuming hiring process. Fortunately, with the use of field service management software, companies can more effectively streamline and automate the time-consuming tasks that deter hiring and onboarding processes.
FieldPulse field service management software offers a wide collection of capabilities, including employee dispatching and customer communication, that aid in boosting overall company productivity. Contact us today to start your trial and learn more about what FieldPulse can do for your carpentry businesses.
