Carpenter Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Carpenters in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $63,910 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,501 take-home, or $4,292 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,489
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,962
- Medicare (1.45%)$927
- Wisconsin income tax$2,031
- Take-home pay$51,501
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Carpenter pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,230 | $22.71 | $38,832 | $3,236 |
| 25th percentile | $55,070 | $26.48 | $44,787 | $3,732 |
| Median (50th) | $63,910 | $30.73 | $51,501 | $4,292 |
| 75th percentile | $82,360 | $39.60 | $63,786 | $5,315 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,180 | $45.28 | $71,475 | $5,956 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,910 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $51,501 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,128 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $63,910 | $51,501 | $53,128 |
*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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median carpenter salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $63,910 a year, or about $30.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,070 and $82,360.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $63,910 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $51,501 a year ($4,292 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,031 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,128 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #14 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 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 Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $91,760
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $84,700
- Electrician — $77,800
- Construction Laborer — $57,430