Find a Job You Really Want In
In today’s job market, salary remains the top priority for many professionals, including finish carpenters. If you’re wondering, “What can I expect to earn as a finish carpenter in my state?” you’re not alone.
While individual earnings can vary based on factors like experience, location, and company type, we have compiled comprehensive data on average salaries for finish carpenters by state, categorized by experience and skill level. Understanding these averages can provide a better picture of potential earnings in your area.
To analyze how salaries for finish carpenters fluctuate across the United States, we examined the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding average pay for finish carpenters by state.
We also adjusted these salaries to account for the cost of living in each state, recognizing that a salary in North Carolina can stretch further than it does in California.
The state offering the highest adjusted salary for finish carpenters is Illinois. Below is a snapshot of the top ten states:
Let’s dive deeper into how we calculated these salaries and see a full ranking of all states.
For more insights on the job market, check out:
- Discover the 20 Best Small Companies in Chicago to Work For
- Explore the 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Chicago
- Check out the 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Illinois
How We Determined Pay by State
As mentioned previously, we sourced the average annual salary data for finish carpenters from 2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, specifically their ‘Occupational Employment Statistics.’
To ensure a fair comparison of salaries across states, we also considered the cost of living in each area.
We created an index by dividing the average wage for each state by its cost of living relative to the national average. For example, if California has a cost of living index of 135.9 and an average pay of $55,780, the adjusted salary would be:
$55,780 * (100 / 135.9) = $41,044
This index allows us to rank all states based on their adjusted salaries for finish carpenters.
Here’s a complete list of rankings for all states:
Detailed List of Finish Carpenter Salaries by State
| Rank | State | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $65,940 |
| 2 | Missouri | $58,296 |
| 3 | Alaska | $53,371 |
| 4 | Washington | $53,298 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $51,735 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $51,198 |
| 7 | Michigan | $50,955 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $49,532 |
| 9 | Ohio | $49,232 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $48,958 |
| 11 | Indiana | $48,357 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $47,928 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $47,325 |
| 14 | Nevada | $47,279 |
| 15 | New York | $47,251 |
| 16 | Kansas | $46,529 |
| 17 | Iowa | $46,318 |
| 18 | Delaware | $45,601 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $45,428 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $44,557 |
| 21 | Georgia | $44,354 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $44,304 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $42,393 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $42,246 |
| 25 | Arizona | $42,081 |
| 26 | Colorado | $41,984 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $41,961 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $41,902 |
| 29 | Texas | $41,896 |
| 30 | Utah | $41,741 |
| 31 | Virginia | $41,686 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $41,640 |
| 33 | Oregon | $41,219 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $41,128 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $41,072 |
| 36 | California | $41,044 |
| 37 | Alabama | $40,361 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $40,218 |
| 39 | Montana | $40,039 |
| 40 | Idaho | $39,967 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $39,965 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $39,868 |
| 43 | Florida | $39,867 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $39,626 |
| 45 | Maryland | $39,051 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $38,170 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $37,870 |
| 48 | Vermont | $36,886 |
| 49 | Maine | $35,731 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $33,702 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
