Carpenters Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for carpenters in California was $75,920 +25.3% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $75,920 | $60,580 |
| Median hourly | $36.50 | $29.12 |
| Employment | 100,750 | 670,090 |
| Location quotient | 1.28 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What the data says
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $47,490, median pay is $75,920, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $119,950.
At $36.50 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $75,920 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $75,920.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average carpenters salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $75,920 ($36.50 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for carpenters?
The California median of $75,920 is 25.3% higher than the U.S. median of $60,580.
How many carpenters work in California?
Approximately 100,750 are employed in California, per BLS OES.