Carpenter Salary in Kentucky

$25/hr

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

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What Carpenters Earn in Kentucky

Carpenters in Kentucky construct, install, repair, and finish building frameworks, fixtures, concrete forms, flooring, and other structures. Latest BLS wage data places Kentucky carpenter pay at 35.08 per hour, or approximately 72,960 annually. The statewide median is $25.33 per hour, equivalent to $52,680 per year. The 25th percentile is $22.09 per hour, while the 75th percentile is $29.45. Pay varies by experience, location, specialty, employer, and project type. The median wages range from $22.49 per hour in East Kentucky to $27.17 in the Louisville/Jefferson County area.

Hourly rates by level in Kentucky

Rates typically increase with experience, skills, and responsibility.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$17.67–$22.09/hr
▲ 3.6% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$22.09–$29.45/hr
▲ 3.6% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$29.45–$35.08/hr
▲ 3.6% 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
Kentucky · Day Shift
Base rate$25.77
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
+ OSHA 30-Hour Construction$0.50
+ NCCER Carpentry Level 2$1.00
Effective hourly$27.52
Straight · 40 hrs$1,101
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$330
Weekly gross$1,431
Annualised · 50 weeks
$71,552
8 OT hrs/week · Kentucky

Who pays the most in Kentucky

Higher-paying carpenter work can involve larger projects and specialized construction skills.

01 / 06$30.66/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial and institutional construction can give carpenters experience with larger structures and complex project schedules.

+ Larger commercial projects
+ Specialized structural work
– Tight project deadlines
– Strict site requirements
02 / 06$30.09/hr

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Infrastructure work can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, bridges, highways, and other major engineering projects.

+ Large infrastructure projects
+ Structural and formwork experience
– Outdoor working conditions
– Travel between project sites
03 / 06$29.27/hr

Building Finishing Contractors

Finish contractors provide opportunities for carpenters with detailed installation and interior finishing skills.

+ Specialized finish skills
+ Detailed interior work
– High precision requirements
– Schedule depends on other trades
04 / 06$29.13/hr

Residential Building Construction

Residential construction includes new homes, additions, remodeling, framing, and other building projects.

+ Broad residential experience
+ Multiple carpentry specialties
– Weather can affect schedules
– Physically demanding work
05 / 06$28.83/hr

Specialty Trade Contractors

Specialty contractors provide focused opportunities across construction, remodeling, installation, repair, and related trade work.

+ Specialized skill development
+ Varied project experience
– Active construction-site work
– Changing project schedules
06 / 06$26.26/hr

Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing

Manufacturing can suit carpenters who prefer controlled shop environments and detailed wood-product production.

+ 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. 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
Fall Protection Competent Person+$0.75$1,560$1254 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 2+$1$2,080$1905 weeks
Scaffold Competent Person+$1$2,080$2105 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 1+$0.75$1,560$1906 weeks
First Aid/CPR+$0.25$520$707 weeks
OSHA 10+$0.25$520$859 weeks
OSHA 30+$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 $25.33/hr.

40 hr week
$1,013
No OT
50 hr week
$1,393
+$18,997/yr
60 hr week
$1,773
+$37,995/yr
70 hr week
$2,153
+$56,992/yr

Questions workers ask

Does Kentucky require a state carpenter license?▾
Kentucky does not require a general statewide carpenter trade license. General erection and construction work is listed as requiring no state installation contractor license, although local requirements can apply.
Does Kentucky require licensing for construction contractors?▾
Requirements depend on the type of work and jurisdiction. Kentucky's official guidance notes that many cities and counties impose local business licenses or other requirements on businesses operating within their jurisdictions.
What lead certification can a Kentucky carpenter obtain?▾
Kentucky's Environmental Lead Program provides certification for regulated lead-hazard activities, including lead-hazard abatement workers, supervisors, and project designers.
Does carpenter pay vary across Kentucky?▾
Yes. latest BLS data shows median carpenter wages ranging from $22.49 per hour in East Kentucky to $27.17 in Louisville/Jefferson County.
Can carpenters work on public construction projects in Kentucky?▾
Yes, but contractors bidding on Kentucky Transportation Cabinet construction or maintenance projects may need a state certificate of eligibility and must meet the applicable prequalification requirements.

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These are 2025 Kentucky wage estimates for Carpenters under SOC 47-2031 from CareerOneStop, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

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