Carpenter Salary in Lincoln, NE
Carpenters in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn a median $49,910 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,891 take-home, or $3,408 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Lincoln, NE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,809
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,094
- Medicare (1.45%)$724
- Nebraska income tax$1,391
- Take-home pay$40,891
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Lincoln, NE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,150 | $18.82 | $32,735 | $2,728 |
| 25th percentile | $45,130 | $21.70 | $37,268 | $3,106 |
| Median (50th) | $49,910 | $24.00 | $40,891 | $3,408 |
| 75th percentile | $59,850 | $28.77 | $48,426 | $4,035 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,400 | $33.37 | $55,375 | $4,615 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nebraska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,910 buys in Lincoln, NE
Prices in Lincoln, NE are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $40,891 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,650 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lincoln, NE has 1.3× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Lincoln, NE ranks #138 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 |
| 138 | Lincoln, NE | $49,910 | $40,891 | $44,650 |
*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 Nebraska
- Omaha, NE — $52,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Lincoln, NE?
The median carpenter salary in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $49,910 a year, or about $24.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,130 and $59,850.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Lincoln, NE?
On the median $49,910 salary, a single filer living in Nebraska takes home about $40,891 a year ($3,408 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,391 in Nebraska taxes in 2026.
Is Lincoln, NE a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,650 would in a typical U.S. city. Lincoln, NE ranks #138 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Lincoln, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lincoln, NE is $917 a month ($1,132 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lincoln, NE
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,270
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $60,810
- Electrician — $60,680
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,670
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $49,970
- Construction Laborer — $46,700