Carpenter Salary in Pennsylvania

$28/hr

Explore carpenter earnings, career-level wage ranges, major-paying industries, licensing requirements, and key career questions in Pennsylvania.

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What Carpenters Earn in Pennsylvania

Carpenters construct, install, and repair structural frameworks, fixtures, and finished woodwork for residential, commercial, and other construction projects. In Pennsylvania, carpenters typically earn about $20.66 to $44.29 per hour, corresponding to approximately $42,970 to $92,110 annually. Earnings vary with experience, location, specialization, employer, and project type.

Hourly rates by level in Pennsylvania

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

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$18.90–$23.01/hr
▲ 0.21% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$23.01–$35.92/hr
▲ 0.21% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$35.92–$44.29/hr
▲ 0.21% 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
Pennsylvania · Day Shift
Base rate$35.92
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
+ OSHA 30-Hour Construction$0.50
+ Forklift Operator$0.50
Effective hourly$37.17
Straight · 40 hrs$1,487
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$446
Weekly gross$1,933
Annualised · 50 weeks
$96,642
8 OT hrs/week · Pennsylvania

Who pays the most in Pennsylvania

The following are national carpenter-specific industry benchmarks because comparable Pennsylvania industry wage figures are not consistently published. Actual pay in Pennsylvania can vary by employer, project, and location.

01 / 03$30.09/hr

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Carpenters may work on infrastructure projects involving concrete forms, bridges, highways, and other specialized construction.

+ Infrastructure project variety
+ Specialized formwork
– Outdoor work conditions
– Project-based schedules
02 / 03$29.60/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial and institutional projects can provide opportunities for carpenters handling structural framing, installations, and large-scale construction.

+ Larger project environments
+ Specialized construction work
– Strict scheduling requirements
– Detailed site coordination
03 / 03$28.83/hr

Specialty Trade Contractors

Specialty contractors perform focused construction activities, including structural, exterior, finishing, remodeling, and repair work.

+ Diverse project types
+ Opportunities for specialization
– Multiple worksite locations
– Physical job demands

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
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.25$520$59.996 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.50$1,040$159.998 weeks
First Aid/CPR/AED+$0.25$520$9510 weeks
Forklift Operator+$0.50$1,040$20010 weeks
Rigging & Crane Signaling+$0.50$1,040$24012 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $28.48/hr.

40 hr week
$1,139
No OT
50 hr week
$1,566
+$21,360/yr
60 hr week
$1,994
+$42,720/yr
70 hr week
$2,421
+$64,080/yr

Questions workers ask

Does Pennsylvania require a carpenter license?▾
Pennsylvania does not have statewide licensure or certification requirements for most construction contractors or their employees. However, some municipalities may establish their own licensing or certification requirements for construction trades.
Does a carpenter working on home improvements need registration?▾
The state requires most home improvement contractors to register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. This is a contractor registration requirement, not a general employee carpenter license.
Are additional credentials required for specialized work?▾
Yes. Pennsylvania certifies contractors and workers who perform asbestos and lead removal services. These requirements apply to specialized activities and should not be treated as general carpenter licensing requirements. Local municipalities may also impose additional requirements.

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Wage figures use the latest CareerOneStop/BLS data for Carpenters (SOC 47-2031), with annual figures based on 2,080 hours.

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