Carpenter Salary in Lexington, KY
Carpenters in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median $52,030 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,283 take-home, or $3,524 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Lexington, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,064
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,226
- Medicare (1.45%)$754
- Kentucky income tax$1,703
- Take-home pay$42,283
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Lexington, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,660 | $18.11 | $31,239 | $2,603 |
| 25th percentile | $47,080 | $22.63 | $38,479 | $3,207 |
| Median (50th) | $52,030 | $25.01 | $42,283 | $3,524 |
| 75th percentile | $61,590 | $29.61 | $49,630 | $4,136 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,340 | $36.22 | $59,312 | $4,943 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $52,030 buys in Lexington, KY
Prices in Lexington, KY are 7.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $42,283 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,520 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 Lexington, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Lexington, KY ranks #132 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 |
| 132 | Lexington, KY | $52,030 | $42,283 | $45,520 |
*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 Kentucky
- Louisville, KY — $56,520
- Bowling Green, KY — $52,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Lexington, KY?
The median carpenter salary in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $52,030 a year, or about $25.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,080 and $61,590.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Lexington, KY?
On the median $52,030 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $42,283 a year ($3,524 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,703 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Lexington, KY a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 7.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,520 would in a typical U.S. city. Lexington, KY ranks #132 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Lexington, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lexington, KY is $1,079 a month ($1,272 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lexington, KY
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,490
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,870
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $58,560
- Electrician — $57,320
- Construction Laborer — $46,300