Carpenters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $118,450 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Chicago earn between $58,770 and $113,970.
- $41K10th
- $59K25th
- $80KMedian
- $114K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,110 | $6,926 | $39.96 |
| Median | $80,440 | $6,703 | $38.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,770 | $4,898 | $28.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $113,970 | $9,498 | $54.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Carpenters in Chicago earn 3% more than the Illinois average ($80,320) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $83,110 | $80,440 | $41,220 | $118,450 | 14,220 |
| Illinois | $80,320 | $79,000 | $39,890 | $117,660 | 19,570 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $83,110, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $63,325 a year, or $5,277 a month and $2,436 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $64,835 | $5,403 |
| Working in IL | $63,325 | $5,277 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $83,110 buys what about $80,226 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Decatur pays the most ($88,510).
- Decatur$88,510
- Chicago$83,110
- Kankakee$82,070
- Rockford$75,240
- Peoria$74,600
- Bloomington$74,110
- Springfield$72,180
- Champaign$69,630
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Chicago?
$39.96 an hour on average, and $38.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $63,325 a year ($5,277 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,110.
Do carpenters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% more than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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