SOC 47-3012 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro

Helpers--Carpenters Salary in San Diego, CA

The average salary for helpers--carpenters in San Diego, California is $45,590 a year ($21.92 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $45,710: half of the 500 people in this job in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($44,050).

$45,590average per year

$21.92 / hourMedian $45,710Take-home ≈ $37,852

  • $36K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $46KMedian
  • $50K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

500people in this job
+3%vs U.S. average
#7 of 8California metros
112cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Helpers--Carpenters pay range in San Diego

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,240 or more. The middle half of helpers--carpenters in San Diego earn between $37,870 and $49,890.

  • $36K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $46KMedian
  • $50K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$45,590$3,799$21.92
Median$45,710$3,809$21.98
Entry level (25th percentile)$37,870$3,156$18.21
Experienced (75th percentile)$49,890$4,158$23.99

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Helpers--Carpenters pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.

Helpers--carpenters in San Diego earn 16% less than the California average ($54,530) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($44,050). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $43,780.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Diego$45,590$45,710$35,950$58,240500
California$54,530$49,890$36,690$76,0802,670
United States$44,050$43,780$31,660$57,67021,680

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Helpers--Carpenters salary after taxes in San Diego

On the average salary of $45,590, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $37,852 a year, or $3,154 a month and $1,456 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is San Diego a good place for helpers--carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $45,590 buys what about $40,746 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 20.8 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $45,590 is worth in another city

Helpers--Carpenters salary in other California cities

San Diego ranks 7th of 8 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($62,310).

All Helpers--Carpenters salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for helpers--carpenters

Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,310).

Helpers--Carpenters salary by city

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Helpers--Carpenters salary in San Diego: questions

How much do helpers--carpenters make an hour in San Diego?

$21.92 an hour on average, and $21.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level helpers--carpenters salary in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,870, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the helpers--carpenters take-home pay in San Diego?

About $37,852 a year ($3,154 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,590. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do helpers--carpenters earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?

The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($44,050).

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 47-3012; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
  • 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 2.32, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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