Carpenter Salary in Grand Rapids, MI
Carpenters in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area earn a median $59,000 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,330 take-home, or $3,944 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Grand Rapids, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,900
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,658
- Medicare (1.45%)$856
- Michigan income tax$2,257
- Take-home pay$47,330
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Grand Rapids? City residents also pay Grand Rapids’s city income tax — about $885 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $46,445 ($3,870 a month). Choose “Grand Rapids” 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 Grand Rapids, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,680 | $20.04 | $34,149 | $2,846 |
| 25th percentile | $47,600 | $22.88 | $38,654 | $3,221 |
| Median (50th) | $59,000 | $28.37 | $47,330 | $3,944 |
| 75th percentile | $64,720 | $31.12 | $51,683 | $4,307 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,900 | $36.49 | $59,251 | $4,938 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,000 buys in Grand Rapids, MI
Prices in Grand Rapids, MI are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $47,330 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,536 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 Grand Rapids, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Grand Rapids, MI ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Grand Rapids, MI | $59,000 | $47,330 | $49,536 |
*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 Michigan
- Detroit, MI — $65,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median carpenter salary in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area is $59,000 a year, or about $28.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,600 and $64,720.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Grand Rapids, MI?
On the median $59,000 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $47,330 a year ($3,944 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,257 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Grand Rapids, MI a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,536 would in a typical U.S. city. Grand Rapids, MI ranks #27 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Grand Rapids, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Grand Rapids, MI is $1,242 a month ($1,479 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Grand Rapids, MI
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $75,350
- Electrician — $62,240
- Construction Laborer — $47,780