Carpenter Salary in Alaska

$36/hr

This guide covers carpenter pay in Alaska, wage levels, credentials, higher-paying industries, and key career considerations.

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What carpenters earn in Alaska

Carpenters in Alaska construct, install, repair, and finish building frameworks, fixtures, and other structures using wood and comparable materials. Current BLS wage data places Alaska carpenter pay at $23.59–$72.85 per hour, or approximately $49,060–$151,530 annually. The statewide median is $35.51 per hour, equal to $73,860 per year. The 25th percentile is $28.74 per hour, while the 75th percentile is $45.26. Pay can vary substantially by location, experience, project type, and employer. The median was $35.00 in Anchorage and $40.85 in Fairbanks-College.

Hourly rates by level in Alaska

What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$23.59–$28.74/hr
▲ 13.36% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$28.74–$45.26/hr
▲ 13.36% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$45.26–$72.85/hr
▲ 13.36% from last year

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Where do you stand?

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.

10th
$18
25th
$23
Median
$29
75th
$36
90th
$45
YOU · $28.00
Your percentile
46th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$58,240
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
−$2,080
Below the median

Calculate pay with extra credentials

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0

An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.

American RecruitsEstimate
Journeyman Carpenter
Alaska · Day Shift
Base rate$37.00
+ Alaska Residential Contractor Endorsement$2.00
+ NCCER Carpentry Level 2$1.00
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
Effective hourly$40.25
Straight · 40 hrs$1,610
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$483
Weekly gross$2,093
Annualised · 50 weeks
$104,650
8 OT hrs/week · Alaska

Who pays the most in Alaska

Higher-paying carpenter work is often connected to larger projects and specialized construction settings.

01 / 06$30.66/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial and institutional projects can provide opportunities to work on larger structures and complex construction schedules.

+ Larger commercial and institutional projects
+ Exposure to complex framing and structural work
– Tighter deadlines can create demanding schedules
– Projects may require specialized site access and safety procedures
02 / 06$30.09/hr

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Infrastructure projects can involve formwork and structural carpentry for highways, bridges, utilities, and other major projects.

+ Large-scale infrastructure experience
+ Opportunities for structural and concrete-form work
– Outdoor conditions can affect working schedules
– Projects may require travel to changing work locations
03 / 06$29.27/hr

Building Finishing Contractors

Finish-focused work can suit carpenters with strong installation, trim, and detail-oriented skills.

+ Builds specialized finish carpentry skills
+ Opportunities for detailed interior installation
– Precision standards can be demanding
– Work schedules may depend on other trades completing earlier phases
04 / 06$29.13/hr

Residential Building Construction

Residential construction provides opportunities across new homes, additions, remodeling, and related building projects.

+ Broad residential framing experience
+ Opportunities to develop multiple carpentry skills
– Cold-weather conditions can affect outdoor work
– Remote projects may involve longer travel or work periods away from home
05 / 06$28.26/hr

Foundation, Structure, Building Exterior Contractors

Structural and exterior contractors provide opportunities for framing, formwork, and other work supporting the building shell.

+ Strong structural construction experience
+ Exposure to framing and exterior systems
– Physically demanding work is common
– Outdoor conditions can create difficult working environments
06 / 06$28.83/hr

Specialty Trade Contractors

Specialty contractors provide focused construction opportunities across carpentry-related installation, remodeling, repair, and other site work.

+ Specialized skills can support advancement
+ Variety across construction and repair projects
– Work is commonly performed at active job sites
– Schedules can change as project phases shift

Which states pay carpenters the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01Hawaii$41/hr
  2. 02Illinois$37.98/hr
  3. 03California$36.50/hr
  4. 04Massachusetts$36.16/hr
  5. 05Alaskathis page$35.51/hr
  6. 06New York$34.77/hr
  7. 07Minnesota$31.22/hr
  8. 08Connecticut$30.80/hr
  9. 09New Jersey$30.77/hr
  10. 10Maryland$30.27/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
NCCER Carpentry Level 2+$1$2,080$1905 weeks
Scaffold User/Competent Person (OSHA-aligned)+$1$2,080$2105 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 1+$0.75$1,560$1906 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person (OSHA-aligned)+$0.75$1,560$1656 weeks
First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)+$0.25$520$707 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.25$520$859 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.50$1,040$1709 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $35.51/hr.

40 hr week
$1,420
No OT
50 hr week
$1,953
+$26,632/yr
60 hr week
$2,486
+$53,265/yr
70 hr week
$3,018
+$79,897/yr

Questions workers ask

Do carpenters need a license in Alaska?▾
An employee carpenter does not have a general statewide carpenter trade license, but people operating independently as construction contractors can be subject to Alaska contractor registration and licensing requirements.
Can a carpenter become an Alaska specialty contractor?▾
Yes. Alaska allows specialty contractors to perform specific construction trades, including carpentry, subject to the state's contractor registration, bonding, insurance, and other requirements.
What is the Alaska Residential Contractor Endorsement?▾
The endorsement applies to qualifying residential contracting work involving privately owned residential structures of one to four units and has specific examination and training requirements.
Does Alaska carpenter pay vary by location?▾
Yes. latest data shows a statewide median of $35.51 per hour, compared with $35.00 in Anchorage and $40.85 in Fairbanks-College.
Why are Alaska carpenter wages so widely distributed?▾
The published wage distribution spans different experience levels, locations, employers, and project types, so individual earnings can differ substantially from the statewide median.

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Last updated October 1, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.