The short version. BLS reports median annual wages for carpenters (SOC 47-2031) in the mid-$60,000s (~$31/hr) in recent OES data, with the middle 50% at $48,000–$85,000. The two biggest drivers of where you land are union status and the metro. A UBC journeyman in Chicago, San Francisco, or NYC routinely earns $50–$70/hr all-in (cash + fringe), while a non-union residential framer in a smaller Southern market earns $22–$28/hr. Foremen and general foremen clear $85,000–$140,000+. Specialty carpenters — Mass Timber, millwork, formwork — sit above general carpenters. All figures below are estimates, not offers.
The realistic Carpenter salary range
Carpenters cover a wide range of work — residential framing and finish, commercial concrete formwork, interior systems and drywall grid, cabinet and millwork, mass-timber and CLT installation, marine and industrial. BLS bundles all of them under 47-2031 and reports a median annual wage in the mid-$60,000s (~$31/hr). Behind that median sits meaningful dispersion: union journeymen in strong-union metros at the top, and non-union residential framers in low-cost markets near the bottom.
National median (BLS)~$66,000US, 2024 · ~$31.50/hr
Typical range$48K–$85KMiddle 50%, straight-time
Top decile$102K+Union journeyman · major metro
Pay by level: apprentice → foreman
| Level | Typical hourly (cash) | Estimated annual (2080 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice, Year 1 (union) | $19–$26/hr | $40,000–$54,000 |
| Apprentice, Year 4 (union) | $32–$44/hr | $66,000–$92,000 |
| Journeyman (union, mid-metro) | $38–$52/hr | $79,000–$108,000 |
| Journeyman (union, high-metro) | $50–$68/hr | $104,000–$140,000 |
| Journeyman (non-union, residential) | $22–$34/hr | $45,000–$70,000 |
| Foreman | $40–$58/hr | $85,000–$120,000 |
| General foreman / Superintendent | $52–$78/hr salary equivalent | $110,000–$160,000+ |
Union vs. non-union: the real math
The single biggest lever in a carpenter's compensation is whether the work is under a UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters) collective bargaining agreement or a non-union arrangement. UBC scale in major-metro locals — Chicago Local 74, NYC District Council of Carpenters, San Francisco Local 22, LA Local 209, Seattle Local 30 — frequently runs $50–$70/hr all-in with the fringe stack: cash wage plus employer contributions to a defined-benefit pension, a defined-contribution annuity, health & welfare, apprenticeship training, and vacation. Fringe alone is often $18–$28/hr — money the non-union employer pockets as margin.
Non-union work at reputable commercial and industrial contractors can compete for cash, especially in Right-to-Work states and where the local isn't strong. It rarely competes on retirement — the union pension, over a 30-year career, is worth well into six figures per year in retirement income that no 401(k) match will produce. This is the calculation career carpenters run when they weigh a lateral offer.
Pay by state
| State | Estimated median wage (BLS OES) | Estimated top-quartile |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | ~$92,000 | ~$115,000 |
| Illinois | ~$88,000 | ~$115,000 |
| New York | ~$82,000 | ~$110,000 |
| Massachusetts | ~$78,000 | ~$105,000 |
| California | ~$78,000 | ~$102,000 |
| Washington | ~$74,000 | ~$98,000 |
| New Jersey | ~$72,000 | ~$95,000 |
| Alaska | ~$72,000 | ~$92,000 |
| Texas | ~$52,000 | ~$68,000 |
| Florida | ~$48,000 | ~$65,000 |
| Alabama / Mississippi / Arkansas | ~$42,000 | ~$58,000 |
Specialty premiums
- Mass timber / CLT installation. New specialty with limited supply of skilled crews — commonly $4–$8/hr above general carpenter scale.
- Concrete formwork (union). Formwork carpenters on infrastructure and high-rise commonly run 10–15% above general commercial rates plus premium OT.
- Millwork and finish carpentry. Custom cabinet and millwork installation in high-end residential and commercial pays $38–$58/hr non-union in strong-market metros; well above general framing.
- Marine / dock carpentry. Coast Guard, port, and marine construction carries strong scale plus per-diem.
- Public works / prevailing wage. Davis-Bacon and state prevailing-wage projects require published scale that often matches or exceeds union rates for the duration of the project.
Total comp: fringe, overtime, per-diem
Base scale alone dramatically understates a union carpenter's compensation. Add:
- Fringe benefits ($18–$28/hr in major metros). Employer contributions to pension, annuity, health, vacation, and apprenticeship. Cash-value to you.
- Overtime. Time-and-a-half over 8 hours/day in California and Colorado agreements; over 40/week most places; double-time on Sundays and holidays under many local CBAs.
- Travel and per-diem. Out-of-town work under many CBAs pays $85–$150/day non-taxable per-diem plus travel.
- Shift and specialty differentials. Night shift, hazard, height, and confined-space differentials on industrial and infrastructure projects.
A union journeyman in a high-cost metro pulling 45 hours/week with per-diem on a road project can annualize $135,000–$160,000 — well above the "$50/hr all-in" headline.
How to raise your wage as a carpenter
- Get into a strong-market local. The single largest career lever. Applying to an apprenticeship at UBC Local 22 (SF), 30 (Seattle), 74 (Chicago), or the NYC DCC changes your lifetime earnings.
- Complete the 4-year apprenticeship without breaks. Every year at scale progression adds to your journeyman rate and pension credit.
- Add specialty certifications. OSHA 30, welding (SMAW/GMAW), scaffold user & erector, forklift, aerial lift, and CLT/mass-timber training all pay real premiums.
- Move toward foreman. Bilingual crew management is a hard skill contractors pay for. Take the UBC's foreman training path.
- Chase prevailing-wage work. Davis-Bacon federal projects and state prevailing-wage projects often pay above the local's straight scale.
- Travel selectively. Out-of-state road jobs with per-diem materially move annual earnings.
Line up the next job with a strategist
Marqee's trades strategists help journeymen target strong-local shops, prevailing-wage projects, and foreman-track roles. Bring your ticket, we'll bring the leads.
See how Marqee works →Job outlook
BLS projects overall employment of carpenters to be roughly flat over the coming decade, with a large volume of annual openings from retirements and industry turnover. Federal infrastructure spending, ongoing housing demand, and mass-timber commercial construction all support continued demand for skilled union carpenters. The persistent gap between apprentices completing and journeymen retiring keeps upward pressure on wages in strong-union markets.
FAQ
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual wages for carpenters in the mid-$60,000s ($30-$32/hr) in recent OES data, with the middle 50% earning roughly $48,000-$85,000.
First-year apprentices in a UBC/USBrotherhood carpenter apprenticeship typically earn 50-60% of journeyman scale, which lands around $19-$26/hr including fringe. Non-union laborers and helpers on residential crews commonly earn $17-$22/hr in year one.
Almost always on total compensation, and often on hourly cash as well. UBC scale in major-metro locals frequently exceeds $50/hr all-in (cash + fringe), and the pension and health benefits are substantial.
BLS OES data places Hawaii, Illinois, California, Massachusetts, and New York at the top for carpenter pay, with medians roughly 20-40% above the national number.
Carpenter foremen commonly earn $85,000-$115,000; general foremen and superintendents on commercial or public projects run $110,000-$160,000+ with substantial bonus opportunity on schedule completion.
Join or transfer into a union local (UBC) if you're in a strong-union market — it's the largest single lever. Add certifications employers pay extra for: OSHA 30, welding, scaffold, forklift, and specialty work like Mass Timber, formwork, or millwork.