Carpenter Salary in Iowa
$28/hr
Current statewide wage data show a broad spread between newer workers and highly experienced carpenters, while local markets and project types can move actual offers above or below statewide benchmarks.
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Salary Guides / Iowa
Carpenter Salary in Iowa
Current statewide wage data show a broad spread between newer workers and highly experienced carpenters, while local markets and project types can move actual offers above or below statewide benchmarks.
What Carpenters Earn in Iowa
Carpenters in Iowa currently earn about $18.77 to $36.80 per hour, or roughly $39,040 to $76,540 annually. Actual pay depends on experience, location, union coverage, employer, project type, overtime, and specialized skills such as formwork, finish carpentry, or commercial framing.
Hourly rates by level in Iowa
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
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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.
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
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in Iowa
Sector figures are national occupational benchmarks used to compare common carpenter industries; Iowa employer offers may differ.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Refineries, chemical plants and power generation. The highest rates in the trade, paid for shutdown schedules and a much heavier safety burden.
Building Finishing Contractors
Hyperscale builds and critical-facility retrofits. Schedule-driven work with real premiums for anyone who has done it before.
Foundation, Structure & Exterior Contractors
Offices, schools, hospitals and retail. The largest slice of the market and the easiest to move around inside without changing your certifications.
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.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCCER Level 2 | +$1 | $2,080 | $185 | 5 weeks |
| Scaffold User/Competent Person | +$1 | $2,080 | $205 | 5 weeks |
| NCCER Core/Level 1 | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $185 | 6 weeks |
| Fall Protection Competent Person | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $165 | 6 weeks |
| First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned) | +$0.25 | $520 | $70 | 7 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.25 | $520 | $75 | 8 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$0.50 | $1,040 | $160 | 8 weeks |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $27.75/hr.
Questions workers ask
What is the median carpenter wage in Iowa?▾
Can experienced carpenters earn more than $36.80 per hour?▾
Does location matter?▾
See Open Carpenter Jobs in Iowa
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Wage figures use current federal occupational wage data for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031.
Last updated October 30, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.