Carpenter Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Carpenters in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $65,070 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,574 take-home, or $4,381 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,628
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,034
- Medicare (1.45%)$944
- Indiana income tax$1,890
- Take-home pay$52,574
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $1,294 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $51,279 ($4,273 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” 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 Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,940 | $22.57 | $38,541 | $3,212 |
| 25th percentile | $52,040 | $25.02 | $42,488 | $3,541 |
| Median (50th) | $65,070 | $31.28 | $52,574 | $4,381 |
| 75th percentile | $77,260 | $37.14 | $60,933 | $5,078 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,570 | $42.58 | $68,556 | $5,713 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,070 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $52,574 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,938 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 Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #8 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 Indianapolis, IN?
The median carpenter salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $65,070 a year, or about $31.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,040 and $77,260.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $65,070 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $52,574 a year ($4,381 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,890 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,938 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #8 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $85,300
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $82,190
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $76,980
- Electrician — $65,130
- Construction Laborer — $51,040