Carpenters

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in May 2023, carpenters had median hourly earnings of $27.09. The average worker making this wage and working full time for the year would have an income of approximately $56,350. The lowest paid 10 percent of carpenters made less than $37,440 per year, and the highest paid 10 percent made more than $94,580 annually. It is important to note, however, that these annual salaries are for full-time work. Many carpenters, like others in the building trades, have periods of unemployment during the year, and their incomes may not match these figures.

Apprentice carpenters average about $20.00 per hour, or $42,237 per year., according to ZipRecruiter. Salaries may range from $27,000 or less to $57,500 or more. Apprentices just starting out may earn the minimum wage, which was nationally $7.25 per hour ($15,000 annually) in August 2024. The average wage for apprentice carpenters is increased periodically, so that by the fourth year of training, apprentice pay is 80 percent of the journeyman carpenter's rate.

Fringe benefits, such as health insurance, pension funds, and paid vacations, are available to some workers in this field and vary with local union contracts. In general, benefits are more likely to be offered on jobs staffed by union workers.