Carpenter hourly rate and trade wages
A carpenter's median wage is $29.12 an hour (BLS OEWS May 2025). Below are the national medians for the trades people ask about most, each linked to its full page where there is one. These are what workers earn; a contractor's billed rate adds payroll costs, overhead and profit on top.
| Trade | BLS occupation | Median hourly wage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician hourly rate | electricians (SOC 47-2111) | $30.38 | $23.76 to $40.36 |
| Plumber hourly rate | plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) | $30.67 | $24.13 to $40.92 |
| Handyman rates | general maintenance and repair workers (SOC 49-9071) | $23.84 | $19.64 to $30.10 |
| Carpenter hourly rate | carpenters (SOC 47-2031) | $29.12 | $23.32 to $36.94 |
| Self-employed painter hourly rate | painters, construction and maintenance (SOC 47-2141) | $23.75 | $21.46 to $29.65 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, national estimates, updated September 2026.
Carpenter hourly rate
Carpenters span rough framing to finish trim, and the survey mixes both, so treat the median as the middle of a wide range. The national median for carpenters is $29.12 an hour, and the middle half earns $23.32 to $36.94 (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2031).
By state, the median runs from $22.55 in Oklahoma to $41.00 in Hawaii, $18.45 an hour apart. Illinois ($37.98) and California ($36.50) follow at the top; Arkansas ($22.96) and South Dakota ($23.14) sit just above the bottom. BLS counts 670,090 carpenters on payrolls nationally.
Self-employed painter hourly rate
The survey covers painters on a payroll; a self-employed painter adds prep time, ladders, drop cloths and paint runs that no hourly wage figure includes. The national median for painters, construction and maintenance is $23.75 an hour, and the middle half earns $21.46 to $29.65 (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2141).
By state, the median runs from $19.28 in Arkansas to $32.80 in Hawaii, $13.52 an hour apart. Illinois ($29.45) and Alaska ($29.32) follow at the top; South Carolina ($19.64) and Rhode Island ($20.00) sit just above the bottom. BLS counts 225,190 painters, construction and maintenance on payrolls nationally.
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