Carpenters pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,260 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Durham earn between $44,510 and $60,380.
- $39K10th
- $45K25th
- $52KMedian
- $60K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,650 | $4,388 | $25.31 |
| Median | $51,540 | $4,295 | $24.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,510 | $3,709 | $21.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,380 | $5,032 | $29.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Carpenters in Durham earn 4% more than the North Carolina average ($50,510) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $52,650 | $51,540 | $39,390 | $63,260 | 520 |
| North Carolina | $50,510 | $49,100 | $35,620 | $63,160 | 13,480 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $52,650, a single filer in Durham takes home about $42,892 a year, or $3,574 a month and $1,650 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $52,650 buys what about $53,960 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($53,450).
- Charlotte$53,450
- Durham$52,650
- Asheville$52,620
- Wilmington$51,900
- Raleigh$51,460
- Winston-Salem$51,100
- Hickory$50,450
- Greensboro$50,430
- Goldsboro$50,330
- Jacksonville$49,260
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 Durham: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Durham?
$25.31 an hour on average, and $24.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Durham?
About $42,892 a year ($3,574 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,650.
Do carpenters earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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