Carpenter Salary in Portland, OR
Carpenters in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $73,710 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,065 take-home, or $4,589 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,386
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,570
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,069
- Oregon income tax$5,620
- Take-home pay$55,065
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,440 | $22.81 | $36,977 | $3,081 |
| 25th percentile | $59,330 | $28.52 | $45,490 | $3,791 |
| Median (50th) | $73,710 | $35.44 | $55,065 | $4,589 |
| 75th percentile | $103,530 | $49.77 | $73,434 | $6,120 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,440 | $52.13 | $76,459 | $6,372 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,710 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $55,065 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,233 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, OR has 1.8× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $73,710 | $55,065 | $52,233 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median carpenter salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $73,710 a year, or about $35.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,330 and $103,530.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $73,710 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $55,065 a year ($4,589 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,620 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,233 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #18 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $112,480
- Electrician — $105,090
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $101,010
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $79,040
- Construction Laborer — $54,240
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $53,280