Carpenter Salary in Waterbury, CT
Carpenters in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area earn a median $62,250 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,322 take-home, or $4,193 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Waterbury, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,290
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,860
- Medicare (1.45%)$903
- Connecticut income tax$1,876
- Take-home pay$50,322
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Waterbury, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,680 | $22.44 | $38,512 | $3,209 |
| 25th percentile | $52,490 | $25.24 | $42,919 | $3,577 |
| Median (50th) | $62,250 | $29.93 | $50,322 | $4,193 |
| 75th percentile | $76,960 | $37.00 | $60,314 | $5,026 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,350 | $39.59 | $63,809 | $5,317 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,250 buys in Waterbury, CT
Prices in Waterbury, CT are 0.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $50,322 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,434 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 less concentrated in Waterbury, CT than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Waterbury, CT ranks #88 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 |
| 88 | Waterbury, CT | $62,250 | $50,322 | $50,434 |
*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 Connecticut
- Norwich, CT — $64,500
- Hartford, CT — $64,770
- New Haven, CT — $65,750
- Bridgeport, CT — $63,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Waterbury, CT?
The median carpenter salary in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area is $62,250 a year, or about $29.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,490 and $76,960.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Waterbury, CT?
On the median $62,250 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $50,322 a year ($4,193 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,876 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Waterbury, CT a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 0.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,434 would in a typical U.S. city. Waterbury, CT ranks #88 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Waterbury, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Waterbury, CT is $1,445 a month ($1,788 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Waterbury, CT
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $93,350
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $76,880
- Electrician — $75,850
- Construction Laborer — $56,710