Carpenter Salary in North Carolina

$24/hr

Discover North Carolina carpenter hourly rates, annual salaries, career levels, credentials, industries, and factors affecting earning potential.

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What Carpenter Earns in North Carolina

Carpenters construct, install, and repair structures and fixtures made from wood and comparable materials, including framing, concrete forms, stairs, doors, windows, flooring, and cabinets. In North Carolina, carpenters earn $17.13 per hour at the 10th percentile, $23.61 at the median, and $30.36 at the 90th percentile. These figures correspond to $35,620, $49,100, and $63,160 annually. The data comes from BLS OEWS estimates for SOC 47-2031. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, location, employer, union status, overtime, and project type. Regional differences are also significant, with median wages ranging from $20.94 in Western North Carolina to $24.78 in Durham-Chapel Hill.

Hourly rates by level in North Carolina

Rates typically increase with experience, skills, and responsibility.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$17.13–$20.27/hr
▲ 3.1% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$20.27–$28.27/hr
▲ 3.1% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$28.27–$30.36/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
North Carolina · Day Shift
Base rate$24.27
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
+ OSHA 30-Hour Construction$0.50
+ NCCER Carpentry Level 2$1.00
Effective hourly$26.02
Straight · 40 hrs$1,041
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$312
Weekly gross$1,353
Annualised · 50 weeks
$67,652
8 OT hrs/week · North Carolina

Who pays the most in North Carolina

Construction segments do not have separately published statewide carpenter wage rates.

01 / 06$23.61/hr

Commercial Construction

Commercial carpenters work on offices, retail properties, institutions, interiors, framing, fixtures, and larger building projects.

+ Larger projects
+ Specialized work
– Project deadlines
– Employer variation
02 / 06$23.61/hr

Residential Construction

Residential carpenters handle framing, remodeling, finish work, installations, repairs, and housing-related construction.

+ Broad job market
+ Varied specialties
– Starting wages
– Seasonal demand
03 / 06$23.61/hr

Industrial Construction

Industrial carpenters may work on structural components, concrete forms, equipment supports, and specialized construction environments.

+ Specialized skills
+ Complex projects
– Demanding conditions
– Travel requirements
04 / 06$23.61/hr

Institutional Construction

Institutional projects include schools, hospitals, public facilities, and other large structures requiring substantial construction and finish work.

+ Large projects
+ Stable sectors
– Strict schedules
– Site restrictions
05 / 06$23.61/hr

Heavy Construction

Heavy construction can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, infrastructure projects, and other specialized construction activities.

+ Infrastructure work
+ Specialized experience
– Outdoor conditions
– Travel requirements
06 / 06$23.61/hr

Public Construction

North Carolina does not have state-level prevailing wage rates, so ordinary statewide occupational wages cannot be replaced with a state public-works rate.

+ Public projects
+ Large contracts
– No state rate
– Project variation

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 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 $23.61/hr.

40 hr week
$944
No OT
50 hr week
$1,299
+$17,708/yr
60 hr week
$1,653
+$35,415/yr
70 hr week
$2,007
+$53,122/yr

Questions workers ask

Does North Carolina require a carpenter to hold a state license?▾
North Carolina does not require an employee carpenter to hold a general contractor license simply for performing carpentry duties. State contractor licensing applies to qualifying contracting businesses and projects.
When does a North Carolina general contractor license become required?▾
A general contractor license is required when the construction, improvement, or related undertaking has a cost of $40,000 or more, subject to statutory exceptions.
Are carpenter apprenticeships available in North Carolina?▾
Yes. North Carolina recognizes registered apprenticeships that meet federal requirements, and apprenticeship completion is recognized within the state's occupational licensing framework where applicable.
Does North Carolina have a statewide prevailing wage for carpenters?▾
No. The North Carolina Department of Labor states that the state does not have prevailing wage rates at the state level. Federal Davis-Bacon requirements can still apply to qualifying federally funded projects.
Does lead-safety certification apply to North Carolina carpenters?▾
Yes, when covered paid renovation work disturbs lead-based paint in pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities. North Carolina requires certification and lead-safe work practices for applicable RRP projects.
Is OSHA 30 a professional carpenter certification?▾
No. OSHA 30 is construction safety Outreach Training that provides a course completion card. It does not function as a state carpenter license or professional trade certification.
Can a carpenter work independently in North Carolina?▾
Yes, but licensing requirements depend on the scope and value of the contracting work. A general contractor license is required for qualifying projects valued at $40,000 or more.
Do carpenter wages vary within North Carolina?▾
Yes. BLS wage data shows meaningful differences between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, so a carpenter's actual pay can depend substantially on the local labor market.

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CareerOneStop reports these 2025 North Carolina wage figures for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data.

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