How much does a helpers--carpenter make?
The median helpers--carpenter in the United States earns $43,780 per year, about $21.05 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all helpers--carpenters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-3012.
Helpers--carpenter salary range
Pay for helpers--carpenters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $31,660 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $57,670. The average (mean) wage of $44,050 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,660 | $15.22 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,730 | $17.66 | |
| Median (50th) | $43,780 | $21.05 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $49,400 | $23.75 | |
| 90th percentile | $57,670 | $27.73 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for helpers--carpenters (SOC 47-3012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Helpers--carpenter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Helpers--carpenters earn the most in New Hampshire at $58,090 a year, and the least in Missouri at $32,420. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $58,090 | N/A |
| Colorado | $50,900 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $50,460 | 200 |
| Rhode Island | $50,300 | N/A |
| Maine | $50,100 | 160 |
| California | $49,890 | 2,670 |
| Massachusetts | $48,130 | 630 |
| New York | $47,740 | 1,110 |
| Arkansas | $46,800 | 100 |
| Washington | $46,060 | 620 |
| Illinois | $45,660 | N/A |
| Michigan | $44,960 | 230 |
| Ohio | $44,760 | 540 |
| Hawaii | $44,550 | N/A |
| Vermont | $44,550 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $44,040 | 840 |
| Texas | $43,950 | 2,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,880 | 560 |
| Virginia | $43,730 | 1,200 |
| Oregon | $43,260 | 220 |
| Indiana | $42,940 | 160 |
| Montana | $42,670 | N/A |
| Idaho | $41,820 | N/A |
| Arizona | $41,540 | N/A |
| Louisiana | $40,900 | 860 |
| North Carolina | $40,540 | 650 |
| Florida | $40,220 | 2,120 |
| Georgia | $40,160 | 410 |
| Iowa | $39,830 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $39,790 | 440 |
| Nebraska | $39,670 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $39,480 | 150 |
| Maryland | $39,470 | 580 |
| Alaska | $39,210 | 90 |
| Alabama | $38,930 | 410 |
| Kansas | $38,130 | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $38,080 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $37,100 | 50 |
| Nevada | $36,230 | 540 |
| South Carolina | $36,090 | 200 |
| Utah | $35,820 | 330 |
| Kentucky | $35,520 | N/A |
| Mississippi | $35,360 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 | 330 |
| Delaware | $33,920 | 190 |
| West Virginia | $33,760 | 320 |
| Missouri | $32,420 | 50 |
State median wages for helpers--carpenters (SOC 47-3012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for helpers--carpenters
The BLS projects employment of helpers--carpenters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1.7%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 21,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 21,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,000 openings a year for helpers--carpenters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a helpers--carpenter
The typical entry-level education for helpers--carpenters is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a helpers--carpenter earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Hampshire, $58,090) and the lowest (Missouri, $32,420) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 21,680 people work as helpers--carpenters in the United States. At $43,780 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Helpers--carpenter salary FAQ
How much does a helpers--carpenter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a helpers--carpenter is $21.05. The middle half of helpers--carpenters earn between $17.66 and $23.75 per hour.
What is the highest helpers--carpenter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of helpers--carpenters earn more than $57,670 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a helpers--carpenter make a year?
The median annual salary for a helpers--carpenter is $43,780. The average (mean) wage of $44,050 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a helpers--carpenter a well paid job?
At $43,780 a year, a helpers--carpenter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 21,680 people work as helpers--carpenters in the United States.
Which state pays helpers--carpenters the most?
New Hampshire has the highest median salary for helpers--carpenters at $58,090 a year. Colorado ($50,900) and Connecticut ($50,460) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a helpers--carpenter a good career?
Employment of helpers--carpenters is projected to shrink 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a helpers--carpenter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for helpers--carpenters as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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