Carpenter Salary in San Francisco, CA
Carpenters in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $89,200 a year — 47% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,357 take-home, or $5,530 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$10,794
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,530
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,293
- California income tax$4,066
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,160
- Take-home pay$66,357
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Carpenter pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,020 | $28.38 | $47,245 | $3,937 |
| 25th percentile | $63,340 | $30.45 | $50,395 | $4,200 |
| Median (50th) | $89,200 | $42.88 | $66,357 | $5,530 |
| 75th percentile | $100,380 | $48.26 | $73,037 | $6,086 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,760 | $63.83 | $92,164 | $7,680 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $89,200 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $66,357 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,395 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $89,200 | $66,357 | $57,395 |
*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 California
- Santa Rosa, CA — $80,520
- San Jose, CA — $80,190
- Modesto, CA — $73,730
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $77,220
- Napa, CA — $80,590
- Santa Cruz, CA — $77,690
- Vallejo, CA — $76,220
- Sacramento, CA — $74,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in San Francisco, CA?
The median carpenter salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $89,200 a year, or about $42.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,340 and $100,380.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $89,200 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $66,357 a year ($5,530 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,226 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 47% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,395 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #10 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $125,130
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $124,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $120,810
- Sheet Metal Worker — $102,660
- Electrician — $92,830
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $87,340
- Taper — $84,840
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $82,160
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $77,880
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $75,970
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles — $74,970
- Glazier — $74,550