How Much Do Carpenters Make an Hour? (Updated 2025 Second-Half Data)

If you’ve ever wondered whether carpentry still pays well in today’s market, the answer is yes, but the details matter. Carpenters remain in steady demand across North America, and wages continue to reflect that demand. Still, how much a carpenter makes an hour depends on where they work, what type of carpentry they specialize in, and whether they’re union or independent.

In this article, we’ll break down the most recent wage data from the second half of 2025, including averages across the U.S. and Canada. Our analysis draws on data from Indeed, Talent.com, Salary.com, ChiselJobs (ourselves) and official government sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Job Bank Canada.

We’ll look at how pay differs by experience level: from apprentices to master carpenters, and explain the key factors that influence hourly rates. So, whether you’re thinking about becoming a carpenter, hiring one, or benchmarking your own pay, this guide gives you the latest numbers and context to understand what carpenters are really earning today.

Latest Hourly Wage Data in North America

United States

According to aggregated data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Salary.com, Indeed, and Talent.com, the average hourly pay for carpenters in the United States during the second half of 2025 ranges between $25 and $32 per hour.

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2023, the mean hourly wage for carpenters in the U.S. was US $29.31/hour and the median hourly wage was US $27.09/hour.

• From Salary.com (November 2025): the benchmark lists a majority range (25th-75th percentile) of US $26-32/hour, with the 90th percentile near US $35/hour

• We (ChiselJobs) found out the average hourly rate as a carpenter is slightly higher, at $28.52 to $30.99 per hour (1,552 jobs, from Jan 1st until Nov 8th).

According to ChiselJobs’ internal dataset (2025 H2), carpenter pay continues to trend upward in high-growth regions such as Texas (Austin and Houston), and Florida (Tampa and Orlando). Markets with sustained residential and commercial construction demand show hourly rates consistently above the national average. In contrast, smaller rural areas tend to remain closer to the lower end of the wage range (Springfield, MO, Knoxville, TN, and Spokane, WA are the top 3 lowest wage range cities).

Our data also indicates that union carpenters and those specializing in concrete, finish, or custom woodwork frequently command hourly rates exceeding $34 per hour, among carpenters with 7 years + experience, usually including completion of a formal apprenticeship program, Red Seal or journeyman certification.

Canada

In Canada, wages have followed a similar upward trend. Data from Job Bank Canada, Indeed, show that as of late 2025, the average hourly wage for carpenters ranges from CA $27 to CA $33 per hour.

• Job Bank Canada lists a national median around CA $30 per hour, with provincial highs surpassing CA $43 per hour in parts of Quebec, Nunavut, and Ontario.

• Indeed reports an average of CA $29.92 per hour nationwide based on 5,200 salaries.

• We (ChiselJobs) found that the average hourly rate for carpenters in Canada is within the same range as government and Indeed data., ranging from CA $27.10 to CA $29.45 per hour, based on 724 verified job postings collected between January 1 and November 8, 2025.

The wage gap between provinces remains clear: Quebec, Nunavut, and Alberta offer the highest median carpenter wages in Canada, often above CA $32 per hour, while Atlantic provinces like New Brunswick and Nova Scotia sit closer to CA $24 per hour, reflecting smaller markets and lower living costs.

Summary

Breakdown by Experience, Skill Level

Carpenter pay varies not only by region, but also by experience level, trade certification, and specialization. As carpenters progress from entry-level helpers to certified journeymen and master tradespeople, hourly rates typically rise in predictable stages.

* Table content summarized from ChiselJobs' internal data (2,000+ job postings)

Factors That Influence Hourly Wage

Certain skills command higher rates across North America:

• A carpenter’s hourly rate is influenced by a mix of professional background, location, and market demand. Based on ChiselJobs’ internal dataset (2025 H2), which analyzed over 2,300 verified postings across the U.S. and Canada, several key factors stand out:

  • Experience & Seniority Carpenters with 7 + years of experience earn an average of 6-8% higher hourly rates than those with 3–5 years of experience. Our data shows their median wage at $32.10 (USD) in the U.S. and CA $33.25 in Canada, reflecting leadership and advanced technical ability.

  • Type of Work Across both countries, finish carpentry and custom woodwork roles averaged 8–12 % above national medians, while concrete formwork and commercial framing positions in large construction markets (metropolitan areas with sustained residential and infrastructure growth such as Houston, Dallas, Toronto, and Vancouver) averaged $34.75/hour (USD) and CA $36.20/hour.

  • Union vs Non-Union Status In listings specifying union affiliation, wages averaged 9 % higher than non-union equivalents. Unionized postings also more frequently included benefits and guaranteed overtime rates.

  • Certification / Trade Licence / Journeyman Status Jobs requiring a journeyman card or Red Seal certification paid between $2.50–$4.00/hour more than uncertified roles, according to our aggregated postings.

  • Economic Conditions & Regional Demand Wage growth was strongest in Texas (+6.4 %), Florida (+5.9 %), and Alberta (+5.1 %) during 2025 H2 compared to the first half of 2025, driven by continued residential and commercial expansion.

  • Overtime, Bonuses & Shift Premiums Around 18 % of postings included project-based or completion bonuses, while 11 % offered night-shift differentials averaging 1.5× base rate.

  • Benefit Packages Positions with listed benefits (health, pension, paid vacation) offered base pay about 5 % below the market median but yielded 7–9 % higher total compensation when benefits were monetized.

  • Cost of Living & Local Labor Market High-cost metros such as San Francisco ($36.20/hour), New York ($34.85/hour), and Vancouver (CA $35.60/hour) consistently led national pay scales, while smaller markets like Knoxville (TN) and Moncton (NB) stayed roughly 15–18 % below national medians.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• U.S. carpenters earn an average of $28.50 – $31.00 per hour. High-growth states such as Texas and Florida continue to outpace the national average.

• Canadian carpenters earn roughly CA $27 – CA $30 per hour. Quebec, Nunavut, and Alberta lead the country with median wages above CA $32 per hour.

• Experience remains the most influential factor in earnings: carpenters with 7 + years of experience or supervisory credentials (journeyman or Red Seal) earn 8–10 % more than mid-level workers.

• Specializations pay premiums: finish carpentry, custom woodwork, and concrete formwork average 8–12 % above national medians, particularly in major construction hubs like Houston, Dallas, Toronto, and Vancouver.

• Unionized and certified carpenters continue to see stronger wage stability, better benefits, and more consistent overtime pay than non-union peers.