Carpenter Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Carpenters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $75,740 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,281 take-home, or $4,857 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,833
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,696
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,098
- California income tax$2,847
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$985
- Take-home pay$58,281
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Carpenter pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,860 | $22.53 | $38,359 | $3,197 |
| 25th percentile | $59,470 | $28.59 | $47,573 | $3,964 |
| Median (50th) | $75,740 | $36.41 | $58,281 | $4,857 |
| 75th percentile | $100,620 | $48.38 | $73,180 | $6,098 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,430 | $56.46 | $83,224 | $6,935 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,740 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $58,281 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,319 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $75,740 | $58,281 | $51,319 |
*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 California
- San Francisco, CA — $89,200
- San Jose, CA — $80,190
- Sacramento, CA — $74,440
- Riverside, CA — $70,880
- San Diego, CA — $73,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median carpenter salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $75,740 a year, or about $36.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,470 and $100,620.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $75,740 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $58,281 a year ($4,857 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,832 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,319 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #23 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $100,280
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $97,600
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $92,890
- Electrician — $73,810
- Sheet Metal Worker — $72,710
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $71,110
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $63,790
- Roofer — $63,560
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $62,800
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $59,080
- Construction Laborer — $58,810
- Hazardous Materials Removal Worker — $51,160