Carpenter Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Carpenters in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $51,500 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,413 take-home, or $3,451 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,000
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,193
- Medicare (1.45%)$747
- Virginia income tax$2,147
- Take-home pay$41,413
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. 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 Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,940 | $18.72 | $32,043 | $2,670 |
| 25th percentile | $46,030 | $22.13 | $37,332 | $3,111 |
| Median (50th) | $51,500 | $24.76 | $41,413 | $3,451 |
| 75th percentile | $60,370 | $29.02 | $48,030 | $4,003 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,460 | $35.32 | $57,099 | $4,758 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,500 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $41,413 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,284 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Virginia Beach, VA has 1.2× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #47 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 |
| 47 | Virginia Beach, VA | $51,500 | $41,413 | $42,284 |
*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 Virginia
- Richmond, VA — $51,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median carpenter salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $51,500 a year, or about $24.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,030 and $60,370.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $51,500 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $41,413 a year ($3,451 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,147 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,284 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #47 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $80,950
- Electrician — $62,350
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,870
- Construction Laborer — $38,490