Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Carpenter Salary in Salt Lake City, UT

Carpenters in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $59,870 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,557 take-home, or $4,046 a month.

Median salary
$59,870
$28.78 per hour
Typical range
$36,510 – $75,540
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Salt Lake City, UT
6,420
1.80× national concentration
▲0.8%
Pay trend: The median for carpenters in Salt Lake City, UT rose from $59,410 (May 2024) to $59,870 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.6%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Carpenter in Salt Lake City, UT
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$48,557
per year · effective tax rate 18.9%
$4,046Monthly
$2,023Twice a month
$1,868Every 2 weeks
$23.34Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,004
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,712
  • Medicare (1.45%)$868
  • Utah income tax$1,728
  • Take-home pay$48,557

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Carpenter pay by experience in Salt Lake City, UT

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$36,510$17.55$30,839$2,570
25th percentile$47,490$22.83$39,167$3,264
Median (50th)$59,870$28.78$48,557$4,046
75th percentile$64,470$31.00$52,046$4,337
90th percentile (top earners)$75,540$36.32$59,539$4,962

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $59,870 buys in Salt Lake City, UT

Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $48,557 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,140 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,426
35% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,717
42% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$2,620
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Salt Lake City, UT 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

Salt Lake City, UT ranks #34 of 54 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Urban Honolulu, HI $94,310$69,540$62,670
2Chicago, IL $80,440$61,583$59,445
3St. Louis, MO $70,990$56,372$59,284
4San Francisco, CA $89,200$66,357$57,395
5Columbus, OH $66,480$54,551$57,140
6Seattle, WA $76,410$62,584$56,315
7San Jose, CA $80,190$60,973$55,218
8Indianapolis, IN $65,070$52,574$54,938
34Salt Lake City, UT$59,870$48,557$48,140

*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 Utah

Frequently asked questions

How much does a carpenter make in Salt Lake City, UT?

The median carpenter salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $59,870 a year, or about $28.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,490 and $64,470.

What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?

On the median $59,870 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $48,557 a year ($4,046 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,728 in Utah taxes in 2026.

Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a carpenter?

Pay here is 1% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,140 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #34 of 54 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a carpenter afford rent in Salt Lake City, UT?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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Cost of living & all salaries in Salt Lake City, UT →