Carpenter Salary in Salem, OR
Carpenters in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median $59,730 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,776 take-home, or $3,815 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Salem, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,988
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,703
- Medicare (1.45%)$866
- Oregon income tax$4,397
- Take-home pay$45,776
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Salem, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,360 | $17.96 | $29,759 | $2,480 |
| 25th percentile | $48,240 | $23.19 | $37,549 | $3,129 |
| Median (50th) | $59,730 | $28.72 | $45,776 | $3,815 |
| 75th percentile | $76,440 | $36.75 | $56,747 | $4,729 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,370 | $47.77 | $70,872 | $5,906 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,730 buys in Salem, OR
Prices in Salem, OR are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $45,776 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,165 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Salem, OR has 2.1× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Salem, OR ranks #145 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 |
| 145 | Salem, OR | $59,730 | $45,776 | $44,165 |
*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 Oregon
- Portland, OR — $73,710
- Eugene, OR — $62,590
- Bend, OR — $61,640
- Medford, OR — $57,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Salem, OR?
The median carpenter salary in the Salem, OR metro area is $59,730 a year, or about $28.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,240 and $76,440.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Salem, OR?
On the median $59,730 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $45,776 a year ($3,815 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,397 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Salem, OR a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,165 would in a typical U.S. city. Salem, OR ranks #145 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Salem, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salem, OR is $1,201 a month ($1,560 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $101,440
- Electrician — $98,850
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $80,610
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $74,270
- Construction Laborer — $54,500
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $47,840