Carpenter Salary in San Diego, CA
Carpenters in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $73,200 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,731 take-home, or $4,728 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,274
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,538
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,061
- California income tax$2,644
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$952
- Take-home pay$56,731
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,310 | $22.75 | $38,690 | $3,224 |
| 25th percentile | $58,570 | $28.16 | $46,916 | $3,910 |
| Median (50th) | $73,200 | $35.19 | $56,731 | $4,728 |
| 75th percentile | $95,930 | $46.12 | $70,378 | $5,865 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,580 | $56.53 | $83,314 | $6,943 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,200 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $56,731 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,704 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $73,200 | $56,731 | $50,704 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $75,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in San Diego, CA?
The median carpenter salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $73,200 a year, or about $35.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,570 and $95,930.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $73,200 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,731 a year ($4,728 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,595 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,704 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #25 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $95,850
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $83,670
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $76,290
- Electrician — $76,160
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $72,510
- Construction Laborer — $57,180
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $55,970