The median annual wage for carpenters was $42,090 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $76,750.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for carpenters in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Nonresidential building construction
$46,740
Building finishing contractors
43,260
Residential building construction
40,110
The starting pay for apprentices usually is between 30 percent and 50 percent of what fully trained carpenters make. As apprentices learn to do more, they receive pay increases.
Nearly all carpenters work full time, which may include working evenings and weekends. Overtime is common in order to meet deadlines. Extreme temperatures or inclement weather may cause delays and limit the number of hours of work.
About 1 in 3 carpenters were self-employed in 2014. Self-employed workers often work in residential construction and may be able to set their own schedule.
Carpenters
Median annual wages, May 2015
Carpenters
$42,090
Construction trades workers
$41,020
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics