Carpenter salary in Illinois

Carpenter earnings by seniority

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Carpenter salary by state

How much does a Carpenter earn?

Carpentry is one of the oldest professions in construction, and one of the most flexible. One could choose to work on a smaller scale, building frameworks for homes, or on a slightly bigger scale, insulating a high-rise building, or even on a massive scale, fortifying trusses for bridges.

The starting carpenter salary for apprentices is typically between 30 to 50 percent of the wage that experienced carpenters make, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The industries hiring the most apprentice carpenters included residential building construction firms; non-residential building construction companies; building finishing contractors; and companies that specialize in foundation, and structure and building exteriors.

Union carpenters often receive higher carpenter salaries and better benefits because of their union's bargaining power. A union's bargaining power gives it the ability to negotiate wages with employers. Union carpenters must train as apprentices for three or four years before they become journeymen. They earn annual salaries averaging more than $70,000 annually.

How do carpenter salaries compare to similar careers?

Carpenters earn about the same as related careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than drywall and ceiling tile installers but more than stone cutters.

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)