Carpenter Salary in Louisville, KY
Carpenters in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $56,520 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,733 take-home, or $3,811 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,602
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,504
- Medicare (1.45%)$820
- Kentucky income tax$1,861
- Take-home pay$45,733
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Carpenter pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,980 | $18.74 | $32,254 | $2,688 |
| 25th percentile | $48,480 | $23.31 | $39,554 | $3,296 |
| Median (50th) | $56,520 | $27.17 | $45,733 | $3,811 |
| 75th percentile | $64,980 | $31.24 | $52,235 | $4,353 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,360 | $36.23 | $59,326 | $4,944 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,520 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $45,733 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,136 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 Louisville, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #30 of 54 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $89,200 | $66,357 | $57,395 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $66,480 | $54,551 | $57,140 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $76,410 | $62,584 | $56,315 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $80,190 | $60,973 | $55,218 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $65,070 | $52,574 | $54,938 |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | $56,520 | $45,733 | $49,136 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 54 metros →
About the job: carpenters
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.9% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Louisville, KY?
The median carpenter salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $56,520 a year, or about $27.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,480 and $64,980.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $56,520 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $45,733 a year ($3,811 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,861 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,136 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #30 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 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 Louisville, KY
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $79,190
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $74,680
- Electrician — $62,440
- Construction Laborer — $47,420