Carpenter Salary in St. Louis, MO
Carpenters in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $70,990 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,372 take-home, or $4,698 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,788
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,401
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,029
- Missouri income tax$2,399
- Take-home pay$56,372
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $710 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $55,662 ($4,639 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,000 | $21.63 | $37,160 | $3,097 |
| 25th percentile | $52,660 | $25.32 | $42,955 | $3,580 |
| Median (50th) | $70,990 | $34.13 | $56,372 | $4,698 |
| 75th percentile | $92,100 | $44.28 | $70,231 | $5,853 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,550 | $47.86 | $75,122 | $6,260 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,990 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $56,372 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,284 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO 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
St. Louis, MO ranks #3 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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $61,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in St. Louis, MO?
The median carpenter salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $70,990 a year, or about $34.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,660 and $92,100.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $70,990 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $56,372 a year ($4,698 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,399 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,284 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #3 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $96,620
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $82,270
- Electrician — $77,170
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $77,000
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $64,670
- Construction Laborer — $64,500
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $59,810