Carpenter Salary in Arkansas

$23/hr

Explore carpenter earnings, career-level wage ranges, major-paying industries, contractor licensing requirements, and practical career questions in Arkansas.

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What Carpenters Earn in Arkansas

Carpenters construct, install, and repair structural frameworks, fixtures, and finished woodwork for residential, commercial, and other construction projects. In Arkansas, carpenters typically earn about $17.50 to $33.92 per hour, corresponding to approximately $36,400 to $70,550 annually. Earnings vary with experience, location, specialization, employer, and project type.

Hourly rates by level in Arkansas

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

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$19.93–$19.93/hr
▲ 3.1% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$27.65–$27.65/hr
▲ 3.1% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$33.92–$33.92/hr
▲ 3.1% 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
Arkansas · Day Shift
Base rate$27.65
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
+ First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)$0.25
+ NCCER Core/Level 1$0.75
Effective hourly$28.90
Straight · 40 hrs$1,156
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$347
Weekly gross$1,503
Annualised · 50 weeks
$75,140
8 OT hrs/week · Arkansas

Who pays the most in Arkansas

The following are national carpenter-specific industry benchmarks because comparable Arkansas industry wage figures are not consistently published. Actual Arkansas pay can vary by employer, project, and location.

01 / 03$30.66/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Carpenters may work on commercial buildings, institutional projects, structural framing, and larger construction sites.

+ Larger project environments
+ Specialized structural work
– Strict scheduling
– Detailed site coordination
02 / 03$30.09/hr

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Carpenters can perform concrete formwork and related work on bridges, infrastructure, and other civil construction projects.

+ Infrastructure project variety
+ Specialized formwork
– Outdoor work conditions
– Travel between projects
03 / 03$29.27/hr

Building Finishing Contractors

Finish carpenters handle trim, interior installations, remodeling, and detailed work requiring accuracy and consistent workmanship.

+ Detailed finish work
+ Specialization opportunities
– Precision requirements
– Tight completion schedules

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. 05Alaska$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 Level 2+$1$2,080$1804 weeks
Scaffold User/Competent Person+$1$2,080$2005 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person+$0.75$1,560$1605 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.25$520$656 weeks
First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)+$0.25$520$656 weeks
NCCER Core/Level 1+$0.75$1,560$1806 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.50$1,040$1457 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $22.96/hr.

40 hr week
$918
No OT
50 hr week
$1,263
+$17,220/yr
60 hr week
$1,607
+$34,440/yr
70 hr week
$1,952
+$51,660/yr

Questions workers ask

Does Arkansas require a carpenter license?▾
Arkansas does not require a general employee carpenter license. However, contractor licensing applies to qualifying construction work. Commercial contractors generally need a license for projects of $50,000 or more, while residential builder, remodeler, and home improvement licensing can apply to qualifying single-family residential work.
Is carpentry included in Arkansas contractor classifications?▾
Yes. Arkansas lists carpentry, framing, millwork, and cabinets among its commercial building specialties and residential specialty classifications. The applicable classification depends on the contractor's type of work and license.
Can a carpenter work as a subcontractor without a full contractor license?▾
A subcontractor working under a properly licensed commercial contractor can use a subcontractor registration certificate instead of a full commercial license. A contractor contracting directly with the property owner is treated as a prime contractor and must meet the applicable licensing requirements.

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This guide covers Arkansas carpenter wages, legal requirements, training, and career entry. Earnings use current CareerOneStop wage data for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031, with low, median, and high figures representing the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles. Annual figures use 2,080 hours.

Last updated October 30, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.