Carpenter Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
Carpenters in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn a median $58,920 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,935 take-home, or $3,995 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Cedar Rapids, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,890
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,653
- Medicare (1.45%)$854
- Iowa income tax$1,587
- Take-home pay$47,935
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,220 | $20.30 | $35,151 | $2,929 |
| 25th percentile | $48,080 | $23.12 | $39,637 | $3,303 |
| Median (50th) | $58,920 | $28.33 | $47,935 | $3,995 |
| 75th percentile | $66,040 | $31.75 | $53,385 | $4,449 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,390 | $35.28 | $58,323 | $4,860 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,920 buys in Cedar Rapids, IA
Prices in Cedar Rapids, IA are 11.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $47,935 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,882 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 Cedar Rapids, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Cedar Rapids, IA ranks #43 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 43 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,920 | $47,935 | $53,882 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $60,440
- Des Moines, IA — $61,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median carpenter salary in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area is $58,920 a year, or about $28.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,080 and $66,040.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Cedar Rapids, IA?
On the median $58,920 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $47,935 a year ($3,995 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,587 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Cedar Rapids, IA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 11.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,882 would in a typical U.S. city. Cedar Rapids, IA ranks #43 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Cedar Rapids, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cedar Rapids, IA is $800 a month ($1,049 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $86,880
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $83,210
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $63,310
- Electrician — $50,230
- Construction Laborer — $48,670