Carpenters · North Carolina

Carpenters Salary in North Carolina

Carpenters in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $49,100 —19.0% below the national median of $60,580. That ranks NC #44 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$49,100
Median hourly
$23.61
Entry level (P10)
$35,620
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$63,160
90th percentile
Employment
13,480
2.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-19.0%
U.S. $60,580

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,620
$42,150
$49,100
$58,810
$35,620$49,100$63,160
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $49,100.

Employment is only 0.63× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for carpenters

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Hawaii$85,280$41.004,8101.78
2Illinois$79,000$37.9819,5700.74
3California$75,920$36.50100,7501.28
4Massachusetts$75,200$36.1618,5401.18
5Washington$74,190$35.6726,9601.76
6Alaska$73,860$35.512,5601.82
7New York$72,330$34.7740,6300.97
8Minnesota$64,930$31.2214,9301.17
9Connecticut$64,060$30.805,1600.71
10New Jersey$64,010$30.7714,2300.77

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

How much do carpenters make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for carpenters in North Carolina is $49,100, or $23.61 per hour. That is 19.0% below the national median of $60,580.

What is the entry-level carpenters salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,620 per year ($17.13/hour). The 25th percentile is $42,150.

How many people work as carpenters in North Carolina?

About 13,480 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 2.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for carpenters?

North Carolina ranks #44 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.63x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays carpenters the most?

Hawaii has the highest median wage at $85,280 per year, followed by Illinois ($79,000) and California ($75,920).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes