Carpenter Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Carpenters in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $61,180 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,460 take-home, or $4,122 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,162
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,793
- Medicare (1.45%)$887
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,878
- Take-home pay$49,460
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Pittsburgh? City residents also pay Pittsburgh’s 1% city + 2% school district — about $1,835 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $47,625 ($3,969 a month). Choose “Pittsburgh” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Carpenter pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,940 | $21.13 | $36,137 | $3,011 |
| 25th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 | $39,800 | $3,317 |
| Median (50th) | $61,180 | $29.41 | $49,460 | $4,122 |
| 75th percentile | $79,320 | $38.13 | $62,196 | $5,183 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,600 | $45.00 | $71,804 | $5,984 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,180 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $49,460 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,244 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pittsburgh, PA has 1.2× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,180 | $49,460 | $52,244 |
*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.
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $61,780
- Lancaster, PA — $55,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median carpenter salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $61,180 a year, or about $29.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,680 and $79,320.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $61,180 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $49,460 a year ($4,122 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,878 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,244 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #17 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 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 Pittsburgh, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $83,030
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $70,100
- Electrician — $69,340
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $62,320
- Construction Laborer — $50,600