Carpenter Salary in San Jose, CA
Carpenters in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $80,190 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,973 take-home, or $5,081 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,812
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,972
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,163
- California income tax$3,228
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,042
- Take-home pay$60,973
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Carpenter pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,210 | $26.54 | $44,461 | $3,705 |
| 25th percentile | $62,870 | $30.23 | $50,057 | $4,171 |
| Median (50th) | $80,190 | $38.55 | $60,973 | $5,081 |
| 75th percentile | $102,700 | $49.38 | $74,423 | $6,202 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,860 | $64.36 | $92,800 | $7,733 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,190 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $60,973 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,218 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 San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #7 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.
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $89,200
- Sacramento, CA — $74,440
- Riverside, CA — $70,880
- Los Angeles, CA — $75,740
- San Diego, CA — $73,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in San Jose, CA?
The median carpenter salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $80,190 a year, or about $38.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,870 and $102,700.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $80,190 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,973 a year ($5,081 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,271 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,218 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #7 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $129,700
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $107,560
- Electrician — $91,030
- Construction Laborer — $68,470
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $61,970