Carpenter wages by state
— Carpenter wage guide · Updated for 2026
Carpenters frame, finish, and build the structures every other trade works around — and pay varies more by state than almost any other craft. See where the demand (and the money) is, then drill into your state for an exact number
Top-paying states for carpenters
— Highest paying markets
These are statewide averages across every experience level — apprentice through master, all blended together. They don't reflect your years of experience, license status, or sector. For your actual number, run it through the wage calculator.
01
California
$36–$47/hr
Highest demand nationally
02
New York
$34–$45/hr
Strong union presence
03
Washington
$33–$43/hr
Booming commercial sector
Massachusetts
$32–$42/hr
High cost-of-living premium
04
Find carpenter pay in your state
— All 48 states
Rates shown are journeyman-level averages, commercial sector. Select any state for the full breakdown and a personalized calculator.
Every rate below is a single statewide average — it does not account for your years of experience, license status, or sector. Click into your state and use the calculator there to get your real number.
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— About this trade
What drives carpenter pay state to state
Carpenter wages swing more by geography than almost any other trade on Skillit, largely because licensing requirements, union density, and residential-versus-commercial demand vary so much from state to state. States with strict local permitting and heavy union representation — California, New York, Washington — tend to sit well above the national base rate, while states with lighter regulation and lower cost of living, including much of the South and Midwest, run below it.
Experience compounds these differences: a master carpenter with ten-plus years and a current license can out-earn a journeyman in a lower-paying state by a wide margin, even before factoring in industrial-sector or per diem work. Use the calculator on any state page to see how your specific years of experience, license status, and sector shift your number.
Don't guess your rate — calculate it.
Get a personalized pay range based on your state, experience, license, and sector, then create a free profile to get matched with contractors hiring carpenters near you.