Carpenters pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,190 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Boston earn between $60,860 and $98,750.
- $49K10th
- $61K25th
- $75KMedian
- $99K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,260 | $6,772 | $39.07 |
| Median | $75,210 | $6,268 | $36.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,860 | $5,072 | $29.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,750 | $8,229 | $47.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Carpenters in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($79,680) and 24% more than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $81,260 | $75,210 | $48,820 | $124,190 | 12,720 |
| Massachusetts | $79,680 | $75,200 | $48,230 | $122,880 | 18,540 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $81,260, a single filer in Boston takes home about $62,253 a year, or $5,188 a month and $2,394 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $65,996 | $5,500 |
| Working in MA | $62,253 | $5,188 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $81,260 buys what about $75,056 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$81,260
- Springfield$75,620
- Worcester$74,020
- Amherst$73,880
- Barnstable$72,370
- Pittsfield$67,590
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in Boston: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Boston?
$39.07 an hour on average, and $36.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Boston?
About $62,253 a year ($5,188 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,260. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do carpenters earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% more than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2031; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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