Carpenter Salary in Connecticut

$31/hr

See Connecticut carpenter wages, experience-based ranges, credentials, higher-paying industries, and requirements for residential contracting work.

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What Carpenters Earn in Connecticut

Carpenters in Connecticut construct, install, repair, and finish building frameworks, fixtures, concrete forms, doors, windows, flooring, and other structures. BLS wage data places Connecticut carpenter pay at 42.31 per hour, or approximately 88,000 annually. The statewide median is $30.80 per hour, equivalent to $64,060 per year. The 25th percentile is $27.66 per hour, while the 75th percentile is $38.86. Pay varies by experience, location, employer, specialization, and project type. Local median wages include $31.14 in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, $31.61 in New Haven, $31.01 in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, and $30.39 in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury.

Hourly rates by level in Connecticut

Rates typically increase with experience, skills, and responsibility.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$23.62–$27.66/hr
▲ 0.88% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$27.66–$38.86/hr
▲ 0.88% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$38.86–$42.31/hr
▲ 0.88% from last year

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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
Connecticut · Day Shift
Base rate$33.26
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
+ First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)$0.25
+ NCCER Carpentry Level 1$0.75
Effective hourly$34.51
Straight · 40 hrs$1,380
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$414
Weekly gross$1,795
Annualised · 50 weeks
$89,726
8 OT hrs/week · Connecticut

Who pays the most in Connecticut

Higher-paying carpenter work can involve commercial construction, specialized projects, or stricter site requirements.

01 / 06$30.66/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial and institutional projects can provide experience with larger structures, complex framing, and demanding construction schedules.

+ Larger commercial projects
+ Complex structural work
– Tight project deadlines
– Strict site requirements
02 / 06$29.27/hr

Building Finishing Contractors

Finish carpentry and related work can suit carpenters with strong installation, trim, and detailed interior construction skills.

+ Specialized finish work
+ Precision installation
– Detailed workmanship
– Schedule depends on other trades
03 / 06$29.13/hr

Residential Building Construction

Residential construction includes framing, additions, remodeling, and new-home work across Connecticut's housing market.

+ Broad residential experience
+ Multiple carpentry specialties
– Weather can affect schedules
– Physically demanding work
04 / 06$28.26/hr

Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors

Structural and exterior contractors provide opportunities involving framing, forms, foundations, siding, and other building-envelope work.

+ Structural experience
+ Exterior construction skills
– Outdoor working conditions
– Physically demanding projects
05 / 06$28.83/hr

Specialty Trade Contractors

Specialty contractors focus on specific construction activities and can provide varied project experience across installation, remodeling, and repair work.

+ Specialized skill development
+ Varied project experience
– Active jobsite conditions
– Changing project schedules
06 / 06$26.26/hr

Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing

Manufacturing can suit carpenters who prefer controlled shop environments and detailed production of wood products, cabinets, and fixtures.

+ Controlled indoor environment
+ Precision-focused work
– Repetitive production tasks
– Strict output 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. 08Connecticutthis page$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 $30.80/hr.

40 hr week
$1,232
No OT
50 hr week
$1,694
+$23,100/yr
60 hr week
$2,156
+$46,200/yr
70 hr week
$2,618
+$69,300/yr

Questions workers ask

Does Connecticut require carpenters to have a state carpenter license?▾
Connecticut does not list a general employee carpenter license in the contractor registration requirements reviewed, but specific regulated work can require separate professional licensing.
Does a Connecticut carpenter need contractor registration?▾
A person or business contracting directly with consumers for qualifying residential home improvement work generally must register with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
Does Connecticut require registration for new-home construction?▾
Yes. Connecticut requires people or businesses contracting to construct a new home or a portion of a new home to obtain New Home Construction Contractor registration, subject to statutory exceptions.
Do Connecticut carpenters need lead-safety credentials?▾
Carpenters performing covered renovation work that disturbs lead-based paint must follow EPA RRP requirements, including certified renovator training for applicable employees and firm certification.
Are Connecticut carpenter wages different by location?▾
Yes. BLS data reports median hourly wages of $31.14 in Hartford, $31.61 in New Haven, $31.01 in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, and $30.39 in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury.
Are prevailing wages different from normal carpenter wages?▾
Yes. Federal prevailing-wage rates apply to qualifying government-funded projects and can differ substantially from ordinary private-sector occupational wages reported through BLS OEWS.

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CareerOneStop reports Connecticut 2025 carpenter wages at these hourly levels for SOC 47-2031.

Last updated October 5, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.