Carpenter Salary in Madison, WI
Carpenters in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $63,480 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,174 take-home, or $4,265 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,438
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,936
- Medicare (1.45%)$920
- Wisconsin income tax$2,012
- Take-home pay$51,174
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,670 | $22.44 | $38,407 | $3,201 |
| 25th percentile | $53,480 | $25.71 | $43,579 | $3,632 |
| Median (50th) | $63,480 | $30.52 | $51,174 | $4,265 |
| 75th percentile | $82,540 | $39.68 | $63,903 | $5,325 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,430 | $44.44 | $70,336 | $5,861 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,480 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $51,174 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,601 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI 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
Madison, WI ranks #51 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 |
| 51 | Madison, WI | $63,480 | $51,174 | $52,601 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Oshkosh, WI — $84,430
- Appleton, WI — $62,490
- Milwaukee, WI — $63,910
- Green Bay, WI — $60,320
- La Crosse, WI — $58,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Madison, WI?
The median carpenter salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $63,480 a year, or about $30.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $53,480 and $82,540.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $63,480 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $51,174 a year ($4,265 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,012 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,601 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #51 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $93,290
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $85,160
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $83,060
- Electrician — $78,430
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $65,910
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $63,530
- Construction Laborer — $57,000
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $56,490