Best States for Carpenters

Ranked by median salary, with cost-of-living adjustments. Find where carpenters earn the most and have the best purchasing power.

+5.2% projected growth

Faster than average (national avg: +4%, +1.2pp)

State Rankings

Rank	State	Median	COL-Adjusted	Employment
1	HawaiiHI	$85,970	$72,062	5,630
2	IllinoisIL	$76,410	$77,182	24,930
3	CaliforniaCA	$74,820	$66,095	106,500
4	WashingtonWA	$73,260	$68,276	26,340
5	MassachusettsMA	$71,110	$64,353	19,100
6	District of ColumbiaDC	$66,100	$56,399	1,270
7	AlaskaAK	$65,150	$61,812	2,700
8	MinnesotaMN	$64,650	$65,435	15,190
9	New YorkNY	$63,660	$55,069	44,500
10	ConnecticutCT	$63,510	$59,134	5,680
11	NevadaNV	$62,240	$62,116	13,420
12	VermontVT	$62,220	$60,232	3,010
13	New JerseyNJ	$61,880	$54,713	12,930
14	MichiganMI	$61,410	$65,961	21,550
15	OregonOR	$61,170	$60,504	16,390
16	MissouriMO	$61,150	$68,554	16,390
17	DelawareDE	$61,100	$60,020	1,650
18	IndianaIN	$60,510	$66,349	15,200
19	Rhode IslandRI	$60,510	$60,089	2,870
20	WisconsinWI	$60,390	$64,796	15,330
21	MarylandMD	$60,130	$54,813	10,460
22	New HampshireNH	$59,890	$56,024	3,960
23	ColoradoCO	$59,490	$56,657	13,840
24	PennsylvaniaPA	$59,240	$60,573	29,900
25	MaineME	$59,190	$59,728	4,830
26	North DakotaND	$58,390	$62,920	2,830
27	OhioOH	$58,310	$64,218	17,280
28	MontanaMT	$58,110	$60,218	4,240
29	WyomingWY	$55,870	$58,319	2,460
30	ArizonaAZ	$54,540	$55,824	18,290
31	IowaIA	$54,080	$60,223	6,650
32	New MexicoNM	$52,010	$55,389	3,220
33	UtahUT	$51,720	$52,722	14,040
34	KansasKS	$51,550	$57,024	5,120
35	KentuckyKY	$50,860	$57,146	8,200
36	GeorgiaGA	$50,530	$54,275	9,620
37	VirginiaVA	$50,220	$48,522	18,340
38	LouisianaLA	$49,660	$54,571	8,820
39	NebraskaNE	$49,590	$54,495	6,550
40	TennesseeTN	$49,520	$54,120	8,680
41	South CarolinaSC	$48,910	$53,747	7,070
42	IdahoID	$48,530	$50,186	7,340
43	TexasTX	$48,150	$49,896	34,400
44	FloridaFL	$48,080	$48,080	44,130
45	AlabamaAL	$47,880	$54,471	5,700
46	OklahomaOK	$47,740	$53,580	3,810
47	North CarolinaNC	$47,630	$50,996	13,410
48	West VirginiaWV	$47,320	$54,018	2,910
49	South DakotaSD	$46,500	$50,820	4,440
50	ArkansasAR	$46,320	$53,303	3,860
51	MississippiMS	$46,160	$54,115	2,230

Analysis

The top three states for carpenters by median salary are Hawaii, Illinois, and California. However, when adjusted for cost of living, the rankings may shift — states with lower living costs can offer greater real purchasing power even with lower nominal salaries.

Explore by State

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