Highest Paying States for Carpenters in 2025 (Data Analysis)

The carpentry trade is currently undergoing a massive correction in value. For decades, the narrative suggested that success required a university degree, but the 2025 market reality tells a different story. With a projected shortage of over 400,000 construction workers in North America this year, the law of supply and demand has finally tipped in favor of the skilled tradesperson.

If you are holding a journeyman ticket or possess significant framing and layout experience, you have leverage. However, that leverage is not distributed equally across the map. A Red Seal carpenter in Vancouver or a union journeyman in Chicago operates in a completely different financial reality than a non-union residential framer in the Sun Belt.

This analysis breaks down the highest-paying states for carpenters in 2025 using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Indeed, and our own internal metrics at ChiselJobs. We will look beyond just the hourly rate to examine the "real" paycheck—what you actually take home after the cost of living eats its share.

The Top-Tier Earners by Gross Salary with Insights

When we look strictly at the gross annual income, the data consistently points to the Pacific Coast and the Northeast. These regions have historically high labor costs, driven by strong union density and high costs of living.

Hawaii: The Undisputed King of Raw Wages Hawaii continues to hold the top spot for carpentry wages in the United States. In 2025, skilled carpenters in Urban Honolulu are seeing average annual wages exceeding $85,000, with BLS data reporting averages as high as $85,740 for commercial roles. The reason is twofold. First, the Rider Levett Bucknall Q3 2025 report confirms that Hawaii's reliance on imported materials continues to drive construction costs—and labor value—significantly higher than the mainland. Second, the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters maintains the highest union membership rate in the country, creating a rigid wage floor that ensures even entry-level apprentices earn a living wage.

California: High Volume and High Rates California employs more carpenters than any other state, but the "Gold Rush" is strictly regional. The Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose) is currently reporting average wages between $81,000 and $84,000, significantly outpacing the state average of roughly $73,000. This demand is driven heavily by the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program, which has expanded in 2025 to include rental properties, creating a massive backlog of seismic retrofitting work. If you possess skills in concrete formwork or structural framing, this state-subsidized mandate offers abundant overtime opportunities that can swell a paycheck rapidly.

New Jersey and New York The Tri-State area remains a powerhouse for trades income, specifically for those in the commercial sector. Carpenters in New York and New Jersey are seeing average annual salaries hovering around $68,000 to $79,000, but this is largely bifurcated by the NJ Prevailing Wage Act. While residential wages can be lower, carpenters working on public infrastructure or union high-rises are legally mandated to be paid the local prevailing wage, which often exceeds $50/hour. This legal protection makes the region one of the most secure places to build a career, provided you focus on industrial or government-funded projects rather than private residential work.

The "Real Money" List: Cost of Living Adjusted

The gross number on your T4 or W-2 is vanity. The net income after mortgage and groceries is sanity. When we adjust 2025 salary data for the Cost of Living (COL), the map changes drastically. The "flyover states" suddenly become the most lucrative places to swing a hammer.

Illinois: The Best Trade-Off Illinois is arguably the best state for carpenters in 2025 when factoring in purchasing power. With union journeyman packages often pushing total compensation well above $76,000, Illinois rivals the coasts in pay but offers a significantly cheaper housing market than California or New York. The Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council maintains a fierce market share here, ensuring that commercial projects in Chicago pay excellent pension and annuity benefits that are legally binding, unlike the discretionary bonuses often seen in non-union markets.

Missouri and Minnesota These two Midwest states are the hidden gems of the industry. In Missouri, particularly St. Louis, the cost of living gap creates a massive financial advantage; data shows that a carpenter earning $64,000 in St. Louis has roughly the same purchasing power as one earning over $100,000 in Seattle due to housing costs being 158% higher in the Pacific Northwest. Minnesota follows a similar trend, where the specialized demand for cold-weather framing and industrial maintenance keeps average annual construction wages competitive at nearly $74,000, according to recent industry labor reports.

Alaska: The Remote Premium Alaska offers a unique financial proposition in 2025. With average wages for skilled carpenters often exceeding $75,000, and remote rotational work pushing total compensation well into six figures, it rivals California for top-tier earning potential. The key driver this year is the massive Willow Project on the North Slope, which is actively hiring for its peak construction phase.

The work is intense, seasonal, and often involves "camp" life—typically a 2-weeks-on, 2-weeks-off rotation. However, this structure allows workers to "bank" significant income since room and board are covered while on shift. According to the Alaska Department of Labor's 2025 forecast, the construction sector is projected to grow by over 25% this year, fueled almost entirely by these large-scale oil and infrastructure projects. If you are willing to brave the Arctic conditions, the "hardship premium" is real.

Understanding the 2025 Wage Drivers

Why are wages rising in these specific areas? It is rarely an accident. Three specific factors are driving the pay scales we see in the 2025 data.

1. The Union Factor (UBC) There is a direct statistical correlation between union density and average carpenter pay. States like Hawaii, Illinois, and New York have high union participation. This affects non-union wages as well. In these markets, non-union contractors must raise their offers to compete for talent, creating a rising tide that lifts all boats. In contrast, "Right-to-Work" states in the South often show average wages dipping below $50,000 due to fragmented bargaining power.

2. Industrial vs. Residential Specialization The 2025 data indicates a widening gap between residential wood framers and industrial carpenters.

• Residential: Often piece-work or lower hourly rates.

• Industrial/Commercial: Prevailing wage, rigid safety standards, and complex blueprints.

Carpenters who specialize in concrete formwork, piledriving, or millwright work (industrial machinery installation) are skewing the averages upward. If you want to move from the $50k bracket to the $80k bracket, the fastest route is often trading the wood frame for concrete and steel.

3. The Mega-Project Effect The current boom in semiconductor manufacturing plants (chip factories) and data centers is creating localized wage spikes. Areas like Phoenix, Arizona, and Columbus, Ohio, are seeing sudden increases in carpentry demand that haven't fully reflected in the annual averages yet but are visible in active job postings. These projects require thousands of tradespeople and often offer per diem and overtime incentives that distort the standard local wage.

Regional Spotlights and 2025 Trends

The Pacific Northwest (Washington & Oregon) Washington State remains a top-five contender. The Seattle-Tacoma belt has a massive need for multi-family housing and tech infrastructure. The average wage sits comfortably around $75,000, but the housing crisis in the region eats into this rapidly. However, for those willing to commute from rural areas, the pay-to-stress ratio is favorable.

The New England Block Massachusetts is the standout here. With an average wage of nearly $75,000, it competes with the West Coast. The barrier to entry here is often licensure and strict code adherence. The Northeast strictly enforces building codes, meaning carpenters who understand the International Building Code (IBC) and local amendments are more valuable than those who just have good hand skills.

The Canadian Context While this article focuses heavily on U.S. states, Canadian tradespeople should look to British Columbia and Ontario for the highest raw numbers, but Alberta and Saskatchewan for the best cost-of-living adjustments. The industrial sector in the Prairie provinces often pays higher rates for rotational work than downtown Toronto residential gigs.

How to Maximize Your Rate in 2025

Data is useful, but only if you can use it to negotiate. If you are looking to increase your income this year, consider these three moves.

Chase the Prevailing Wage Government-funded projects (schools, bridges, federal buildings) fall under the Davis-Bacon Act in the U.S. This law mandates that workers be paid the local "prevailing wage," which is usually the union rate. You do not always have to be a union member to get these jobs, but you do need to find contractors who bid on public work.

Certify Your Skills General carpentry is good; specialized carpentry is profitable.

• Get your OSHA 30 (or regional safety equivalent).

• Learn to read commercial blueprints.

• Get certified in rigging and signaling if you work around cranes.

• Master layout tools like Total Station.

Be Willing to Travel The highest paid carpenters are often the mobile ones. "Boomers" (carpenters who travel to boom towns) can make significantly more than those who stay in a saturated local market. Look for regions with major industrial ground-breaking and be the first one there.

The Bottom Line on Trades Pay

The year 2025 is shaping up to be a seller's market for skilled labor. The data confirms that while you can make a living anywhere, you will build wealth faster in states that respect the trade through strong labor laws and complex industrial demands. Whether you choose the high-intensity markets of Chicago and Honolulu or the remote ruggedness of Alaska, the money is there for those who have the skills to claim it.

Looking for verified carpentry jobs across the U.S. and Canada? Explore opportunities on ChiselJobs, the job board built for skilled trades.