Carpenter Salary in Scranton, PA
Carpenters in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median $60,240 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,733 take-home, or $4,061 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Scranton, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,049
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,735
- Medicare (1.45%)$873
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,849
- Take-home pay$48,733
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Scranton, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,640 | $18.58 | $32,041 | $2,670 |
| 25th percentile | $47,830 | $23.00 | $39,143 | $3,262 |
| Median (50th) | $60,240 | $28.96 | $48,733 | $4,061 |
| 75th percentile | $74,340 | $35.74 | $58,846 | $4,904 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,290 | $39.08 | $63,522 | $5,293 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,240 buys in Scranton, PA
Prices in Scranton, PA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $48,733 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,090 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Carpenter jobs are about as common in Scranton, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Scranton, PA ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | Scranton, PA | $60,240 | $48,733 | $52,090 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $61,180
- York, PA — $61,160
- Erie, PA — $56,850
- Philadelphia, PA — $61,780
- Allentown, PA — $59,540
- Harrisburg, PA — $57,690
- Lancaster, PA — $55,690
- Reading, PA — $54,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Scranton, PA?
The median carpenter salary in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $60,240 a year, or about $28.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,830 and $74,340.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Scranton, PA?
On the median $60,240 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $48,733 a year ($4,061 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,849 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Scranton, PA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,090 would in a typical U.S. city. Scranton, PA ranks #59 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Scranton, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Scranton, PA is $1,028 a month ($1,252 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Scranton, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,660
- Electrician — $69,540
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,160
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $59,330
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $48,860
- Construction Laborer — $48,290