Carpenter Salary in Chicago, IL
Carpenters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $80,440 a year — 33% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,583 take-home, or $5,132 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,867
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,987
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,166
- Illinois income tax$3,837
- Take-home pay$61,583
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,220 | $19.82 | $33,405 | $2,784 |
| 25th percentile | $58,770 | $28.25 | $46,637 | $3,886 |
| Median (50th) | $80,440 | $38.67 | $61,583 | $5,132 |
| 75th percentile | $113,970 | $54.79 | $83,511 | $6,959 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,450 | $56.95 | $86,441 | $7,203 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,440 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $61,583 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,445 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 Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 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 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median carpenter salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $80,440 a year, or about $38.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,770 and $113,970.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $80,440 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $61,583 a year ($5,132 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,837 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 33% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,445 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $111,260
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $103,380
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $103,100
- Electrician — $102,350
- Sheet Metal Worker — $95,310
- Roofer — $82,090
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $81,020
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $76,220
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $61,740
- Construction Laborer — $60,890