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Carpenters Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks

SOC 47-2031 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data

Median Annual Salary
$60,570
$29.12/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Carpenters is $60,570 per year ($29.12/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $48,506 and $76,835 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $99,902 per year. There are approximately 670,090 carpenters employed in the United States.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.

Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+4.5%
Faster than average
Annual openings
74K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
959K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
6% from new growth94% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Apprenticeship

Industry Wage Breakdown

Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
IndustryWorkforce Median Pay
Residential Building Construction
NAICS 236100
204K$60,600
Building Finishing Contractors
NAICS 238300
113K$60,880
Nonresidential Building Construction
NAICS 236200
109K$63,780
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
NAICS 238100
91K$58,790
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
NAICS 238900
17K$59,900

Wage Percentiles

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
PercentileHourly RateAnnual Salary
P10$19.43$40,414
P25$23.32$48,506
P50MEDIAN$29.12$60,570
P75$36.94$76,835
P90$48.03$99,902

Market Context Signal

JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%

Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average carpenters salary?

The national median salary for Carpenters is $60,570 per year ($29.12/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $48,506 and $76,835 annually.

How much do top-earning carpenters make?

The 90th percentile salary for Carpenters is $99,902 per year ($48.03/hr). The 75th percentile is $76,835 per year.

What is the entry-level salary for carpenters?

Entry-level Carpenters (10th percentile) earn approximately $40,414 per year ($19.43/hr). The 25th percentile is $48,506 per year.

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Carpenters Salary by State

Top 5 states by employment
California100,750 workersNew York40,630 workersFlorida39,300 workersTexas33,540 workersPennsylvania30,630 workers

About This Data

Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.

P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.

Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.

Next OEWS release: May 2027Verify on BLS.gov →

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