Best Value Cities for Carpenters — 2026
Chicago, Illinois ranks first with an average Carpenter salary of $83,110 per year ($39.96/hr). Full ranking of 100 cities below, updated August 2026.
Methodology: Wage figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release data vintage (survey reference period May 2025), mapped from SOC occupation 47-2031 Carpenters to the job title "Carpenter". Values are measured survey estimates for the metropolitan metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — not modeled or interpolated. Year-over-year comparisons use the May 2024 OEWS release. The year shown in page titles is the publication and update year, not the data vintage.
Ranked Cities
| City | State | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Illinois | $83,110 | $39.96/hr | $41,220 | $118,450 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $71,600 | $34.42/hr | $45,000 | $99,550 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $62,580 | $30.09/hr | $43,260 | $79,370 |
| Buffalo | New York | $64,630 | $31.07/hr | $42,670 | $83,360 |
| Syracuse | New York | $65,290 | $31.39/hr | $45,050 | $89,230 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $67,470 | $32.44/hr | $45,760 | $96,190 |
| Akron | Ohio | $63,740 | $30.64/hr | $43,570 | $79,160 |
| Fresno | California | $71,030 | $34.15/hr | $45,510 | $113,210 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $66,960 | $32.19/hr | $46,940 | $88,570 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $66,770 | $32.10/hr | $47,560 | $82,790 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $65,210 | $31.35/hr | $43,610 | $86,870 |
| Modesto | California | $74,640 | $35.89/hr | $48,970 | $117,750 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $74,570 | $35.85/hr | $49,920 | $100,830 |
| Bakersfield | California | $71,400 | $34.33/hr | $45,120 | $104,810 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $67,500 | $32.45/hr | $44,950 | $96,410 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $66,520 | $31.98/hr | $43,940 | $93,600 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $62,010 | $29.81/hr | $38,640 | $81,290 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $67,650 | $32.52/hr | $47,270 | $82,630 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $68,240 | $32.81/hr | $47,230 | $94,180 |
| Spokane | Washington | $67,510 | $32.46/hr | $48,750 | $87,730 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $60,940 | $29.30/hr | $44,790 | $77,130 |
| Rochester | New York | $62,720 | $30.16/hr | $44,360 | $82,670 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $68,120 | $32.75/hr | $46,670 | $92,430 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $61,450 | $29.54/hr | $44,560 | $76,670 |
| Worcester | Massachusetts | $74,020 | $35.59/hr | $46,450 | $106,800 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $55,750 | $26.80/hr | $37,980 | $78,000 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $57,870 | $27.82/hr | $37,760 | $74,850 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $57,510 | $27.65/hr | $36,710 | $76,960 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $62,110 | $29.86/hr | $44,180 | $79,750 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $61,180 | $29.41/hr | $40,940 | $84,410 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $59,310 | $28.52/hr | $41,600 | $79,450 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $58,260 | $28.01/hr | $41,680 | $75,900 |
| Riverside | California | $73,520 | $35.35/hr | $46,430 | $111,960 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $57,480 | $27.63/hr | $38,980 | $75,360 |
| Stockton | California | $73,330 | $35.26/hr | $48,040 | $108,830 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $69,690 | $33.51/hr | $41,430 | $102,910 |
| Denver | Colorado | $68,130 | $32.76/hr | $48,160 | $89,990 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $71,020 | $34.14/hr | $48,940 | $98,980 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $56,590 | $27.21/hr | $40,420 | $74,090 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $53,370 | $25.66/hr | $40,250 | $64,780 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $55,230 | $26.55/hr | $35,460 | $76,110 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $54,590 | $26.24/hr | $38,160 | $71,640 |
| Portland | Oregon | $77,940 | $37.47/hr | $47,440 | $108,440 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $52,160 | $25.08/hr | $37,480 | $63,380 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $50,250 | $24.16/hr | $36,830 | $61,540 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $53,110 | $25.53/hr | $36,260 | $74,880 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $61,870 | $29.75/hr | $38,960 | $86,610 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $61,230 | $29.44/hr | $43,090 | $77,040 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $53,340 | $25.64/hr | $37,310 | $66,000 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $57,990 | $27.88/hr | $39,140 | $79,160 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $49,470 | $23.78/hr | $36,440 | $60,140 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $81,260 | $39.07/hr | $48,820 | $124,190 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $53,520 | $25.73/hr | $36,600 | $70,100 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $78,640 | $37.81/hr | $48,620 | $149,320 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $69,020 | $33.18/hr | $47,500 | $100,710 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $60,380 | $29.03/hr | $39,820 | $77,790 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $50,220 | $24.15/hr | $37,040 | $63,030 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $54,750 | $26.32/hr | $36,750 | $78,730 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $65,930 | $31.70/hr | $45,690 | $98,470 |
| Sacramento | California | $73,480 | $35.33/hr | $45,640 | $114,760 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $53,260 | $25.60/hr | $36,390 | $77,860 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $48,610 | $23.37/hr | $37,770 | $60,350 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $53,230 | $25.59/hr | $37,020 | $72,400 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $53,970 | $25.95/hr | $37,660 | $72,290 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $53,310 | $25.63/hr | $37,250 | $73,040 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $56,730 | $27.27/hr | $40,120 | $69,680 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $53,520 | $25.73/hr | $37,990 | $69,640 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $50,430 | $24.25/hr | $36,160 | $62,400 |
| Houston | Texas | $53,000 | $25.48/hr | $39,470 | $68,500 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $57,360 | $27.58/hr | $36,510 | $75,540 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $49,770 | $23.93/hr | $35,540 | $64,320 |
| Boise | Idaho | $56,350 | $27.09/hr | $36,490 | $76,550 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $49,470 | $23.79/hr | $37,440 | $59,540 |
| Austin | Texas | $53,850 | $25.89/hr | $39,600 | $70,200 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $52,650 | $25.31/hr | $39,390 | $63,260 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $64,560 | $31.04/hr | $42,840 | $85,470 |
| Victoria | Texas | $48,670 | $23.40/hr | $37,500 | $59,000 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $53,450 | $25.70/hr | $38,240 | $65,640 |
| Ogden | Utah | $53,150 | $25.55/hr | $33,860 | $75,430 |
| Provo | Utah | $54,220 | $26.07/hr | $37,190 | $74,600 |
| El Paso | Texas | $44,380 | $21.34/hr | $33,440 | $58,470 |
| Seattle | Washington | $84,060 | $40.42/hr | $58,090 | $123,750 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $52,220 | $25.11/hr | $36,520 | $70,700 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $54,350 | $26.13/hr | $38,940 | $73,460 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $66,890 | $32.16/hr | $48,690 | $88,000 |
| McAllen | Texas | $41,510 | $19.96/hr | $29,170 | $54,830 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $50,050 | $24.06/hr | $35,170 | $64,080 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $51,610 | $24.81/hr | $37,190 | $63,210 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $51,460 | $24.74/hr | $33,350 | $64,830 |
| Dallas | Texas | $50,240 | $24.16/hr | $36,440 | $63,880 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $89,400 | $42.98/hr | $53,860 | $115,470 |
| Tampa | Florida | $54,270 | $26.09/hr | $37,180 | $69,950 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $47,420 | $22.80/hr | $35,320 | $61,000 |
| Orlando | Florida | $51,410 | $24.72/hr | $36,560 | $65,450 |
| San Diego | California | $77,240 | $37.14/hr | $47,310 | $117,580 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | $66,790 | $32.11/hr | $47,150 | $90,590 |
| Miami | Florida | $54,030 | $25.97/hr | $38,510 | $72,540 |
| Los Angeles | California | $78,600 | $37.79/hr | $46,860 | $117,430 |
| San Francisco | California | $89,630 | $43.09/hr | $59,020 | $132,760 |
| New York | New York | $80,560 | $38.73/hr | $46,860 | $123,810 |