Carpenter Salary in Denver, CO
Carpenters in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $64,910 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,188 take-home, or $4,349 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,609
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,024
- Medicare (1.45%)$941
- Colorado income tax$2,148
- Take-home pay$52,188
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,160 | $23.15 | $39,466 | $3,289 |
| 25th percentile | $57,610 | $27.70 | $46,643 | $3,887 |
| Median (50th) | $64,910 | $31.21 | $52,188 | $4,349 |
| 75th percentile | $75,160 | $36.13 | $59,106 | $4,926 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,990 | $43.26 | $68,887 | $5,741 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,910 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $52,188 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,335 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #95 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 |
| 95 | Denver, CO | $64,910 | $52,188 | $49,335 |
*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 Colorado
- Greeley, CO — $57,880
- Fort Collins, CO — $58,310
- Colorado Springs, CO — $57,430
- Boulder, CO — $59,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Denver, CO?
The median carpenter salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $64,910 a year, or about $31.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,610 and $75,160.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $64,910 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $52,188 a year ($4,349 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,148 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,335 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #95 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer — $123,360
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $83,400
- Construction and Building Inspector — $82,020
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas — $66,220
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $64,260
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $64,080
- Glazier — $64,080
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,900
- Pipelayer — $63,410
- Electrician — $63,150
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,130
- Sheet Metal Worker — $61,620