Carpenter Salary in Wilmington, NC
Carpenters in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median $50,830 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,503 take-home, or $3,459 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Wilmington, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,920
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,151
- Medicare (1.45%)$737
- North Carolina income tax$1,519
- Take-home pay$41,503
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Wilmington, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,010 | $18.27 | $31,713 | $2,643 |
| 25th percentile | $45,890 | $22.06 | $37,730 | $3,144 |
| Median (50th) | $50,830 | $24.44 | $41,503 | $3,459 |
| 75th percentile | $59,700 | $28.70 | $48,276 | $4,023 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,510 | $31.01 | $51,949 | $4,329 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,830 buys in Wilmington, NC
Prices in Wilmington, NC are 3.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $41,503 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,043 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 Wilmington, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Wilmington, NC ranks #162 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 |
| 162 | Wilmington, NC | $50,830 | $41,503 | $43,043 |
*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 North Carolina
- Winston, NC — $49,940
- Greensboro, NC — $49,910
- Asheville, NC — $51,290
- Durham, NC — $51,540
- Charlotte, NC — $50,960
- Raleigh, NC — $50,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Wilmington, NC?
The median carpenter salary in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $50,830 a year, or about $24.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,890 and $59,700.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Wilmington, NC?
On the median $50,830 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $41,503 a year ($3,459 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,519 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Wilmington, NC a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 3.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,043 would in a typical U.S. city. Wilmington, NC ranks #162 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Wilmington, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wilmington, NC is $1,380 a month ($1,512 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $70,820
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $56,390
- Electrician — $54,080
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $47,910
- Construction Laborer — $46,090