Carpenter Salary in Columbus, OH
Carpenters in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $66,480 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,551 take-home, or $4,546 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,798
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,122
- Medicare (1.45%)$964
- Ohio income tax$1,046
- Take-home pay$54,551
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $1,662 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $52,889 ($4,407 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Carpenter pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,270 | $22.73 | $39,644 | $3,304 |
| 25th percentile | $57,420 | $27.61 | $47,520 | $3,960 |
| Median (50th) | $66,480 | $31.96 | $54,551 | $4,546 |
| 75th percentile | $78,400 | $37.69 | $62,611 | $5,218 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,630 | $39.73 | $65,470 | $5,456 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,480 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $54,551 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,140 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 Columbus, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #5 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.
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $60,650
- Cincinnati, OH — $60,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Columbus, OH?
The median carpenter salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $66,480 a year, or about $31.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,420 and $78,400.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $66,480 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $54,551 a year ($4,546 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,046 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,140 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #5 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,360
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $78,950
- Electrician — $64,700
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,260
- Construction Laborer — $60,540