Carpenter Salary in New Orleans, LA
Carpenters in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $50,130 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,342 take-home, or $3,445 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,836
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,108
- Medicare (1.45%)$727
- Louisiana income tax$1,118
- Take-home pay$41,342
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Carpenter pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,250 | $17.91 | $31,379 | $2,615 |
| 25th percentile | $44,810 | $21.54 | $37,227 | $3,102 |
| Median (50th) | $50,130 | $24.10 | $41,342 | $3,445 |
| 75th percentile | $61,880 | $29.75 | $50,430 | $4,203 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,040 | $35.12 | $58,409 | $4,867 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,130 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $41,342 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,647 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 less concentrated in New Orleans, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #139 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 |
| 139 | New Orleans, LA | $50,130 | $41,342 | $44,647 |
*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 Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $55,630
- Shreveport, LA — $46,920
- Lafayette, LA — $47,440
- Lake Charles, LA — $45,930
- Slidell, LA — $48,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in New Orleans, LA?
The median carpenter salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $50,130 a year, or about $24.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,810 and $61,880.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $50,130 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $41,342 a year ($3,445 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,118 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,647 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #139 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 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 New Orleans, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,700
- Electrician — $62,490
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $62,450
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $58,240
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $45,980
- Construction Laborer — $39,480
- Helpers--Electrician — $39,360