Carpenter Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Carpenters in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $65,070 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,574 take-home, or $4,381 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,628
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,034
- Medicare (1.45%)$944
- Indiana income tax$1,890
- Take-home pay$52,574
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,940 | $22.57 | $38,541 | $3,212 |
| 25th percentile | $52,040 | $25.02 | $42,488 | $3,541 |
| Median (50th) | $65,070 | $31.28 | $52,574 | $4,381 |
| 75th percentile | $77,260 | $37.14 | $60,933 | $5,078 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,570 | $42.58 | $68,556 | $5,713 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,070 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $52,574 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,938 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 Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | 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 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Elkhart, IN — $65,520
- Evansville, IN — $64,690
- South Bend, IN — $61,690
- Fort Wayne, IN — $60,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median carpenter salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $65,070 a year, or about $31.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,040 and $77,260.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $65,070 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $52,574 a year ($4,381 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,890 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,938 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #26 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $85,300
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $82,190
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $76,980
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical — $74,840
- Pipelayer — $74,180
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $72,770
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $70,140
- Sheet Metal Worker — $65,840
- Electrician — $65,130
- Construction and Building Inspector — $63,650
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,110
- Roofer — $51,580