Carpenter Salary in Boston, MA
Carpenters in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $75,210 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,200 take-home, or $4,850 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,716
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,663
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,091
- Massachusetts income tax$3,541
- Take-home pay$58,200
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Carpenter pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,820 | $23.47 | $39,186 | $3,265 |
| 25th percentile | $60,860 | $29.26 | $48,258 | $4,022 |
| Median (50th) | $75,210 | $36.16 | $58,200 | $4,850 |
| 75th percentile | $98,750 | $47.48 | $73,583 | $6,132 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,190 | $59.71 | $90,160 | $7,513 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,210 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $58,200 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,756 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Carpenter jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #12 of 54 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $89,200 | $66,357 | $57,395 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $66,480 | $54,551 | $57,140 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $76,410 | $62,584 | $56,315 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $80,190 | $60,973 | $55,218 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $65,070 | $52,574 | $54,938 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $75,210 | $58,200 | $53,756 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 54 metros →
About the job: carpenters
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.9% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Boston, MA?
The median carpenter salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $75,210 a year, or about $36.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,860 and $98,750.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $75,210 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $58,200 a year ($4,850 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,541 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,756 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #12 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $99,890
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $96,760
- Construction and Building Inspector — $84,620
- Electrician — $79,910
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $76,940
- Construction Laborer — $63,420
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,820