Carpenters pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,860 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Columbia earn between $41,880 and $59,260.
- $36K10th
- $42K25th
- $48KMedian
- $59K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,260 | $4,438 | $25.61 |
| Median | $48,070 | $4,006 | $23.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,880 | $3,490 | $20.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,260 | $4,938 | $28.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Carpenters in Columbia earn 4% less than the South Carolina average ($55,350) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $53,260 | $48,070 | $36,390 | $77,860 | 880 |
| South Carolina | $55,350 | $50,670 | $36,010 | $79,040 | 6,950 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $53,260, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $43,759 a year, or $3,647 a month and $1,683 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $53,260 buys what about $56,864 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($55,350).
- Spartanburg$55,350
- Greenville$55,230
- Hilton Head Island$55,160
- Charleston$54,750
- Florence$54,580
- Columbia$53,260
- Myrtle Beach$52,160
- Sumter$47,910
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 Columbia: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Columbia?
$25.60 an hour on average, and $23.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Columbia?
About $43,759 a year ($3,647 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,260.
Do carpenters earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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