Carpenters pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,180 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Milwaukee earn between $55,070 and $82,360.
- $47K10th
- $55K25th
- $64KMedian
- $82K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,240 | $5,687 | $32.81 |
| Median | $63,910 | $5,326 | $30.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,070 | $4,589 | $26.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,360 | $6,863 | $39.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Carpenters in Milwaukee earn 5% more than the Wisconsin average ($65,300) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $68,240 | $63,910 | $47,230 | $94,180 | 3,310 |
| Wisconsin | $65,300 | $61,660 | $45,110 | $93,040 | 13,880 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $68,240, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $54,295 a year, or $4,525 a month and $2,088 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $68,240 buys what about $70,396 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 3rd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Oshkosh pays the most ($75,310).
- Oshkosh$75,310
- Janesville$71,100
- Milwaukee$68,240
- Madison$68,120
- Fond du Lac$67,600
- Appleton$67,500
- Racine$65,870
- Sheboygan$65,740
- Eau Claire$62,550
- Green Bay$62,450
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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Milwaukee?
$32.81 an hour on average, and $30.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $54,295 a year ($4,525 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,240.
Do carpenters earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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