Carpenter Salary in New Jersey

$31/hr

This guide covers New Jersey carpenter wages, experience-based pay levels, licensing requirements, higher-paying industries, and career considerations.

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What Carpenters Earn in New Jersey

Carpenters build, install, and repair structural and finish components in residential and commercial projects. In New Jersey, carpenters typically earn about $21.00 to $58.41 per hour, which corresponds to approximately $43,680 to $121,490 annually.

Hourly rates by level in New Jersey

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

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$21–$24.63/hr
▲ 3.43% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$24.63–$38.67/hr
▲ 3.43% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$38.67–$58.41/hr
▲ 3.43% 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
New Jersey · Day Shift
Base rate$31.65
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
+ OSHA 30-Hour Construction$0.50
+ Forklift Operator$0.50
Effective hourly$32.90
Straight · 40 hrs$1,316
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$395
Weekly gross$1,711
Annualised · 50 weeks
$85,540
8 OT hrs/week · New Jersey

Who pays the most in New Jersey

Higher-paying carpenter work can involve commercial construction, finishing, or infrastructure projects.

01 / 03$30.66/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial projects involve larger structures, complex framing, and demanding schedules.

+ Larger crews
+ Specialized structural work
– Strict deadlines
– Site coordination
02 / 03$30.09/hr

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Infrastructure projects can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, bridges, highways, and major public works.

+ Varied formwork experience
– Outdoor conditions
– Travel
03 / 03$29.27/hr

Building Finishing Contractors

Finish work suits carpenters with detailed installation, trim, cabinetry, and interior construction skills.

+ Precision skills
– Schedules may depend on other trades

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.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
First Aid/CPR+$0.25$520$704 weeks
Forklift Operator+$0.50$1,040$1005 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 2+$1$2,080$1905 weeks
Scaffold Training+$1$2,080$2105 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 1+$0.75$1,560$1906 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 $30.77/hr.

40 hr week
$1,231
No OT
50 hr week
$1,692
+$23,077/yr
60 hr week
$2,154
+$46,155/yr
70 hr week
$2,615
+$69,233/yr

Questions workers ask

Does New Jersey require a state carpenter license?▾
New Jersey does not require a general carpenter license or certification for employees, although contractors performing home improvements must meet state registration requirements.
Do New Jersey home improvement contractors need registration?▾
Yes. Contractors offering or performing covered home improvements generally must register with the Division of Consumer Affairs, subject to statutory exemptions.
Can New Jersey carpenters specialize through certifications?▾
Yes. Specialized training and credentials can support work in areas such as commercial doors, anchors, green building, and other construction specialties.

See Open Carpenter Jobs in New Jersey

Verified positions matching this trade and location.

CareerOneStop reports these statewide figures for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031.

Last updated October 22, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.