What is the best state for carpenters?

After cost of living, Illinois: the median of $79,000 a year buys about what $79,030 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays carpenters the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $85,280. After cost of living it ranks 2nd of 51.

What is the worst state for carpenters after cost of living?

Florida, where the median of $49,870 buys about what $48,220 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for carpenters

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Illinois is the best-paying state for carpenters: its median of $79,000 a year buys what $79,030 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. By raw pay, Hawaii leads at $85,280, but its higher prices drop it to 2nd of 51. Counting prices moves 17 states ten or more places.

Carpenter pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Illinois$79,000 median · prices 100.0	$79,030	$79,000	100.0
2	Hawaii$85,280 median · prices 110.0	$77,560	$85,280	110.0
3	Alaska$73,860 median · prices 102.4	$72,160	$73,860	102.4
4	Massachusetts$75,200 median · prices 105.8	$71,110	$75,200	105.8
5	Washington$74,190 median · prices 107.0	$69,330	$74,190	107.0
6	California$75,920 median · prices 110.7	$68,570	$75,920	110.7
7	Indiana$62,870 median · prices 93.3	$67,360	$62,870	93.3
8	New York$72,330 median · prices 107.9	$67,020	$72,330	107.9
9	Missouri$60,840 median · prices 90.8	$66,990	$60,840	90.8
10	Minnesota$64,930 median · prices 98.6	$65,840	$64,930	98.6
11	Iowa$57,710 median · prices 87.8	$65,760	$57,710	87.8
12	Ohio$60,810 median · prices 92.8	$65,550	$60,810	92.8
13	Wisconsin$61,660 median · prices 94.1	$65,530	$61,660	94.1
14	North Dakota$57,890 median · prices 89.0	$65,070	$57,890	89.0
15	New Mexico$59,720 median · prices 92.2	$64,760	$59,720	92.2
16	Michigan$61,680 median · prices 96.2	$64,110	$61,680	96.2
17	Maine$62,160 median · prices 97.0	$64,050	$62,160	97.0
18	Vermont$62,400 median · prices 98.0	$63,700	$62,400	98.0
19	Kansas$56,960 median · prices 90.1	$63,240	$56,960	90.1
20	Nevada$62,380 median · prices 100.0	$62,390	$62,380	100.0
21	Montana$58,820 median · prices 94.6	$62,150	$58,820	94.6
22	Connecticut$64,060 median · prices 103.6	$61,830	$64,060	103.6
23	Wyoming$56,850 median · prices 92.7	$61,330	$56,850	92.7
24	Colorado$62,830 median · prices 103.1	$60,970	$62,830	103.1
25	Pennsylvania$59,370 median · prices 97.6	$60,850	$59,370	97.6
26	Oregon$62,870 median · prices 103.4	$60,830	$62,870	103.4
27	Maryland$62,960 median · prices 105.0	$59,990	$62,960	105.0
28	Rhode Island$60,840 median · prices 102.3	$59,480	$60,840	102.3
29	Delaware$59,200 median · prices 99.8	$59,310	$59,200	99.8
30	New Jersey$64,010 median · prices 108.8	$58,830	$64,010	108.8
31	New Hampshire$61,200 median · prices 104.2	$58,750	$61,200	104.2
32	Kentucky$52,680 median · prices 90.2	$58,430	$52,680	90.2
33	Arizona$58,580 median · prices 100.7	$58,190	$58,580	100.7
34	Louisiana$49,920 median · prices 88.2	$56,590	$49,920	88.2
35	District of Columbia$61,710 median · prices 109.9	$56,150	$61,710	109.9
36	Mississippi$48,650 median · prices 87.0	$55,950	$48,650	87.0
37	Nebraska$50,320 median · prices 90.1	$55,850	$50,320	90.1
38	Tennessee$50,830 median · prices 91.9	$55,330	$50,830	91.9
39	Virginia$55,690 median · prices 101.1	$55,080	$55,690	101.1
40	Arkansas$47,760 median · prices 86.9	$54,940	$47,760	86.9
41	Idaho$52,000 median · prices 95.5	$54,450	$52,000	95.5
42	West Virginia$48,710 median · prices 89.5	$54,430	$48,710	89.5
43	South Dakota$48,140 median · prices 88.6	$54,340	$48,140	88.6
44	Alabama$48,220 median · prices 88.8	$54,290	$48,220	88.8
45	South Carolina$50,670 median · prices 93.7	$54,050	$50,670	93.7
46	Oklahoma$46,910 median · prices 87.8	$53,400	$46,910	87.8
47	Utah$52,360 median · prices 98.9	$52,960	$52,360	98.9
48	North Carolina$49,100 median · prices 94.3	$52,050	$49,100	94.3
49	Georgia$49,350 median · prices 96.3	$51,250	$49,350	96.3
50	Texas$48,900 median · prices 97.1	$50,380	$48,900	97.1
51	Florida$49,870 median · prices 103.4	$48,220	$49,870	103.4

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full carpenter pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for carpenters.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for carpenters (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2031) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed carpenters. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for carpenters?: After cost of living, Illinois: the median of $79,000 a year buys about what $79,030 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays carpenters the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $85,280. After cost of living it ranks 2nd of 51.
What is the worst state for carpenters after cost of living?: Florida, where the median of $49,870 buys about what $48,220 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.