Carpenter Salary in Lafayette, LA
Carpenters in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median $47,440 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,261 take-home, or $3,272 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Lafayette, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,513
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$688
- Louisiana income tax$1,037
- Take-home pay$39,261
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Lafayette, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,520 | $13.71 | $24,626 | $2,052 |
| 25th percentile | $38,590 | $18.55 | $32,416 | $2,701 |
| Median (50th) | $47,440 | $22.81 | $39,261 | $3,272 |
| 75th percentile | $57,600 | $27.69 | $47,120 | $3,927 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,020 | $30.78 | $52,086 | $4,340 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,440 buys in Lafayette, LA
Prices in Lafayette, LA are 12.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $39,261 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,020 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 less concentrated in Lafayette, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Lafayette, LA ranks #136 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 |
| 136 | Lafayette, LA | $47,440 | $39,261 | $45,020 |
*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 Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $55,630
- Shreveport, LA — $46,920
- New Orleans, LA — $50,130
- Lake Charles, LA — $45,930
- Slidell, LA — $48,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Lafayette, LA?
The median carpenter salary in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $47,440 a year, or about $22.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,590 and $57,600.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Lafayette, LA?
On the median $47,440 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $39,261 a year ($3,272 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,037 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, LA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 12.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,020 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, LA ranks #136 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Lafayette, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lafayette, LA is $847 a month ($974 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $71,980
- Electrician — $59,820
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $57,930
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas — $49,970
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas — $47,020
- Construction Laborer — $38,620