Carpenter Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Carpenters in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $61,780 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,924 take-home, or $4,160 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,234
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,830
- Medicare (1.45%)$896
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,897
- Take-home pay$49,924
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,311 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $47,613 ($3,968 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,690 | $21.97 | $37,489 | $3,124 |
| 25th percentile | $48,190 | $23.17 | $39,421 | $3,285 |
| Median (50th) | $61,780 | $29.70 | $49,924 | $4,160 |
| 75th percentile | $76,600 | $36.83 | $60,366 | $5,031 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,470 | $47.34 | $75,081 | $6,257 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,780 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $49,924 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,680 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,780 | $49,924 | $48,680 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $61,180
- Lancaster, PA — $55,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median carpenter salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $61,780 a year, or about $29.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,190 and $76,600.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $61,780 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $49,924 a year ($4,160 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,897 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,680 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #33 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $95,840
- Construction and Building Inspector — $75,710
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $74,860
- Electrician — $74,590
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $66,810
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,410
- Construction Laborer — $55,120
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $43,890