Carpenters Career, Salary and Skills
Carpenters have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $60,580 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 670,090. Wage data is published for 444 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
47-2031.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$60,580
Hourly median
$29.12
Employment
670,090
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Coordination | 3.25 | 3.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Mathematics | 3.00 | 3.50 |
Typical tasks
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Select and order lumber or other required materials.
- Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
- Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
Technology
- Bosch Punch List
- Craftsman CD Estimator
- Drawing and drafting software
- Estimating software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Job costing software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Quicken
- Renaissance MasterCarpenter
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- VirtualBoss
Carpenters salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Carpenters Salary in CAMedian $75,920 · Employment 100,750
- Carpenters Salary in NYMedian $72,330 · Employment 40,630
- Carpenters Salary in FLMedian $49,870 · Employment 39,300
- Carpenters Salary in New York, NYMedian $74,300 · Employment 34,210
- Carpenters Salary in TXMedian $48,900 · Employment 33,540
- Carpenters Salary in PAMedian $59,370 · Employment 30,630
- Carpenters Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $75,740 · Employment 30,600
- Carpenters Salary in WAMedian $74,190 · Employment 26,960
- Carpenters Salary in VAMedian $55,690 · Employment 20,460
- Carpenters Salary in ILMedian $79,000 · Employment 19,570
- Carpenters Salary in MIMedian $61,680 · Employment 18,590
- Carpenters Salary in MAMedian $75,200 · Employment 18,540
Related careers
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNational median $56,460
- GlaziersNational median $57,080
- Tile and Stone SettersNational median $55,690
- Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNational median $57,020
- Plasterers and Stucco MasonsNational median $57,660
- RoofersNational median $55,440
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar WorkersNational median $58,970
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersNational median $42,360
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.