Carpenter Salary in Charlotte, NC
Carpenters in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $50,960 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,602 take-home, or $3,467 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,935
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,160
- Medicare (1.45%)$739
- North Carolina income tax$1,525
- Take-home pay$41,602
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. 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 Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,240 | $18.38 | $31,889 | $2,657 |
| 25th percentile | $46,840 | $22.52 | $38,456 | $3,205 |
| Median (50th) | $50,960 | $24.50 | $41,602 | $3,467 |
| 75th percentile | $59,250 | $28.49 | $47,932 | $3,994 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,640 | $31.56 | $52,811 | $4,401 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,960 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $41,602 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,735 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 less concentrated in Charlotte, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #44 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 |
| 44 | Charlotte, NC | $50,960 | $41,602 | $42,735 |
*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.
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $50,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Charlotte, NC?
The median carpenter salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $50,960 a year, or about $24.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,840 and $59,250.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $50,960 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $41,602 a year ($3,467 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,525 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,735 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #44 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,300
- Electrician — $59,080
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,690
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,870
- Construction Laborer — $45,850