Helpers--Carpenters Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for helpers--carpenterss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $44,050 ≈ $21/hr
National median salary $43,780
Total employment 21,680 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +4.5%
Faster than average
Annual openings 2,700 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 25,200 → 26,400 (+1,100)
Typical entry education No formal educational credential
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$54,530
- New Hampshire$53,340
- Connecticut$51,390
- Rhode Island$51,160
- Washington$50,800
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$34,660
- Utah$34,740
- South Dakota$35,600
- South Carolina$35,610
- Missouri$36,040
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $54,530 | $49,890 | $26 | +23.8% | 2,670 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $53,340 | $58,090 | $26 | +21.1% | — |
| 3 | Connecticut | $51,390 | $50,460 | $25 | +16.7% | 200 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $51,160 | $50,300 | $25 | +16.1% | — |
| 5 | Washington | $50,800 | $46,060 | $24 | +15.3% | 620 |
| 6 | Colorado | $48,970 | $50,900 | $24 | +11.2% | 200 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $48,940 | $46,800 | $24 | +11.1% | 100 |
| 8 | Maine | $48,560 | $50,100 | $23 | +10.2% | 160 |
| 9 | New York | $48,050 | $47,740 | $23 | +9.1% | 1,110 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $46,910 | $48,130 | $23 | +6.5% | 630 |
| 11 | Vermont | $46,680 | $44,550 | $22 | +6% | 200 |
| 12 | Oregon | $45,390 | $43,260 | $22 | +3% | 220 |
| 13 | Illinois | $45,340 | $45,660 | $22 | +2.9% | — |
| 14 | Hawaii | $45,280 | $44,550 | $22 | +2.8% | — |
| 15 | Montana | $45,240 | $42,670 | $22 | +2.7% | — |
| 16 | New Jersey | $44,100 | $44,040 | $21 | +0.1% | 840 |
| 17 | Virginia | $43,980 | $43,730 | $21 | -0.2% | 1,200 |
| 18 | Michigan | $43,730 | $44,960 | $21 | -0.7% | 230 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $43,180 | $43,880 | $21 | -2% | 560 |
| 20 | Ohio | $42,740 | $44,760 | $21 | -3% | 540 |
| 21 | Indiana | $42,720 | $42,940 | $21 | -3% | 160 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $42,670 | $39,790 | $21 | -3.1% | 440 |
| 23 | Texas | $42,120 | $43,950 | $20 | -4.4% | 2,270 |
| 24 | Maryland | $41,790 | $39,470 | $20 | -5.1% | 580 |
| 25 | Florida | $41,750 | $40,220 | $20 | -5.2% | 2,120 |
| 26 | Alaska | $41,720 | $39,210 | $20 | -5.3% | 90 |
| 27 | Arizona | $41,440 | $41,540 | $20 | -5.9% | — |
| 28 | Iowa | $41,360 | $39,830 | $20 | -6.1% | 100 |
| 29 | Idaho | $41,060 | $41,820 | $20 | -6.8% | — |
| 30 | North Carolina | $40,420 | $40,540 | $19 | -8.2% | 650 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $40,340 | $39,480 | $19 | -8.4% | 150 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $40,120 | $37,100 | $19 | -8.9% | 50 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $39,860 | $40,900 | $19 | -9.5% | 860 |
| 34 | Kansas | $39,830 | $38,130 | $19 | -9.6% | 80 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $39,720 | $39,670 | $19 | -9.8% | 50 |
| 36 | Alabama | $39,370 | $38,930 | $19 | -10.6% | 410 |
| 37 | Georgia | $39,280 | $40,160 | $19 | -10.8% | 410 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $36,980 | $38,080 | $18 | -16% | 150 |
| 39 | Nevada | $36,780 | $36,230 | $18 | -16.5% | 540 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $36,570 | $35,520 | $18 | -17% | — |
| 41 | Delaware | $36,460 | $33,920 | $18 | -17.2% | 190 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $36,150 | $33,760 | $17 | -17.9% | 320 |
| 43 | Missouri | $36,040 | $32,420 | $17 | -18.2% | 50 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $35,610 | $36,090 | $17 | -19.2% | 200 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $35,600 | $34,700 | $17 | -19.2% | 330 |
| 46 | Utah | $34,740 | $35,820 | $17 | -21.1% | 330 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $34,660 | $35,360 | $17 | -21.3% | 140 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 105 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $64,810 | $62,310 | 750 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,370 | $60,900 | 340 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,090 | $58,160 | 50 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $52,760 | $52,920 | 40 |
| 5 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $52,760 | $52,960 | — |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $51,200 | $48,540 | 130 |
| 7 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $50,600 | $50,620 | 70 |
| 8 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,590 | $47,950 | 40 |
| 9 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $50,540 | $49,850 | 40 |
| 10 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $50,400 | $49,650 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing helpers--carpenterss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Estate | $54,900 | $49,270 | — |
| 2 | Utility System Construction | $51,140 | $51,450 | 210 |
| 3 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $49,590 | $49,510 | 440 |
| 4 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $49,530 | $49,000 | 160 |
| 5 | Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $45,450 | $47,800 | — |
| 6 | Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $45,450 | $47,800 | — |
| 7 | Sectors 44 and 45 - Retail Trade | $45,330 | $46,840 | 150 |
| 8 | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $45,190 | $44,660 | 70 |
| 9 | Residential Building Construction | $45,010 | $45,140 | 8,030 |
| 10 | Roofing Contractors | $44,800 | $44,730 | 70 |
| 11 | Construction of Buildings | $44,770 | $44,860 | 10,950 |
| 12 | Nonresidential Building Construction | $44,700 | $44,090 | 2,920 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do helpers--carpenters make in the U.S.?
The median helpers--carpenters salary in the United States is $43,780 per year (mean $44,050), and about 80% earn between $31,660 and $57,670.
How much do helpers--carpenters make per hour?
Roughly $21 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $44,050 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays helpers--carpenters the most?
California has the highest average pay for helpers--carpenters at $54,530 per year (median $49,890).
What is the job outlook for helpers--carpenters?
Employment is projected to change +4.5% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 2,700 openings per year.