Best states for a finish carpenter

Q: What is the best state for finish carpenters?

The best state to be a finish carpenter is Vermont based on finish carpenter salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for finish carpenters?

The highest paying state for finish carpenters is Nebraska based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for finish carpenters?

The worst state for finish carpenters is Nebraska, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and construction and extraction careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to finish carpenter jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for finish carpenters.In order to help you decide which state is the best for finish carpenters, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for finish carpenter jobs.

In order to get you the best states for finish carpenters, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a finish carpenter, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for finish carpenters in 2025

1. Vermont
Total finish carpenter jobs: 35
Average annual salary: $51,654
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Location Quotient:
1.53
Finish carpenter jobs in Vermont
2. Maine
Total finish carpenter jobs: 79
Average annual salary: $50,327
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
2
Finish carpenter jobs in Maine
3. Washington
Total finish carpenter jobs: 229
Average annual salary: $58,221
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Finish carpenter jobs in Washington
4. Nevada
Total finish carpenter jobs: 70
Average annual salary: $51,030
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Finish carpenter jobs in Nevada
5. Massachusetts
Total finish carpenter jobs: 172
Average annual salary: $63,822
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
0.63
Finish carpenter jobs in Massachusetts
6. North Dakota
Total finish carpenter jobs: 54
Average annual salary: $46,253
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
1.95
Finish carpenter jobs in North Dakota
7. New Jersey
Total finish carpenter jobs: 143
Average annual salary: $60,727
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0.6
Finish carpenter jobs in New Jersey
8. New Hampshire
Total finish carpenter jobs: 70
Average annual salary: $49,398
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Finish carpenter jobs in New Hampshire
9. Alaska
Total finish carpenter jobs: 53
Average annual salary: $47,416
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
2.13
Finish carpenter jobs in Alaska
10. Connecticut
Total finish carpenter jobs: 93
Average annual salary: $54,329
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Finish carpenter jobs in Connecticut

Finish carpenter jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a finish carpenter

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a finish carpenter

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Vermont	$51,654	$36,000	623,657	35
2	Maine	$50,327	$35,000	1,335,907	79
3	Washington	$58,221	$44,000	7,405,743	229
4	Nevada	$51,030	$36,000	2,998,039	70
5	Massachusetts	$63,822	$44,000	6,859,819	172
6	North Dakota	$46,253	$35,000	755,393	54
7	New Jersey	$60,727	$41,000	9,005,644	143
8	New Hampshire	$49,398	$34,000	1,342,795	70
9	Alaska	$47,416	$40,000	739,795	53
10	Connecticut	$54,329	$37,000	3,588,184	93
11	New York	$59,167	$40,000	19,849,399	260
12	Rhode Island	$52,774	$36,000	1,059,639	30
13	Wyoming	$44,574	$34,000	579,315	42
14	Oregon	$49,778	$36,000	4,142,776	150
15	California	$59,104	$42,000	39,536,653	519
16	Montana	$43,796	$34,000	1,050,493	117
17	Delaware	$49,120	$34,000	961,939	42
18	District of Columbia	$55,904	$39,000	693,972	36
19	Hawaii	$48,488	$37,000	1,427,538	38
20	Indiana	$46,637	$34,000	6,666,818	179
21	South Carolina	$43,814	$32,000	5,024,369	192
22	Illinois	$50,029	$36,000	12,802,023	193
23	Maryland	$49,485	$34,000	6,052,177	203
24	Arizona	$47,587	$34,000	7,016,270	142
25	Louisiana	$42,331	$31,000	4,684,333	131
26	Pennsylvania	$45,103	$31,000	12,805,537	302
27	Ohio	$43,470	$31,000	11,658,609	285
28	Oklahoma	$41,243	$31,000	3,930,864	122
29	Colorado	$44,531	$34,000	5,607,154	195
30	Iowa	$40,248	$30,000	3,145,711	176
31	Minnesota	$43,266	$32,000	5,576,606	192
32	Texas	$42,545	$31,000	28,304,596	579
33	Missouri	$43,019	$32,000	6,113,532	135
34	Michigan	$41,298	$29,000	9,962,311	165
35	Kansas	$39,449	$30,000	2,913,123	117
36	Kentucky	$40,211	$29,000	4,454,189	109
37	Tennessee	$37,754	$28,000	6,715,984	253
38	Wisconsin	$39,358	$28,000	5,795,483	186
39	Florida	$39,650	$29,000	20,984,400	612
40	Arkansas	$40,040	$30,000	3,004,279	63
41	New Mexico	$40,394	$29,000	2,088,070	53
42	Virginia	$38,376	$27,000	8,470,020	359
43	Utah	$36,241	$27,000	3,101,833	144
44	Idaho	$35,445	$26,000	1,716,943	87
45	North Carolina	$35,998	$26,000	10,273,419	399
46	Mississippi	$38,321	$28,000	2,984,100	66
47	South Dakota	$31,162	$23,000	869,666	61
48	West Virginia	$35,122	$25,000	1,815,857	58
49	Georgia	$39,020	$29,000	10,429,379	281
50	Alabama	$35,978	$27,000	4,874,747	147
51	Nebraska	$28,592	$21,000	1,920,076	90

Highest paying states for finish carpenters

Rank	State	Avg. Finish Carpenter Salary
1	Vermont	$51,654
2	Maine	$50,327
3	Washington	$58,221
4	Nevada	$51,030
5	Massachusetts	$63,822
6	North Dakota	$46,253
7	New Jersey	$60,727
8	New Hampshire	$49,398
9	Alaska	$47,416
10	Connecticut	$54,329
11	New York	$59,167
12	Rhode Island	$52,774
13	Wyoming	$44,574
14	Oregon	$49,778
15	California	$59,104
16	Montana	$43,796
17	Delaware	$49,120
18	District of Columbia	$55,904
19	Hawaii	$48,488
20	Indiana	$46,637
21	South Carolina	$43,814
22	Illinois	$50,029
23	Maryland	$49,485
24	Arizona	$47,587
25	Louisiana	$42,331
26	Pennsylvania	$45,103
27	Ohio	$43,470
28	Oklahoma	$41,243
29	Colorado	$44,531
30	Iowa	$40,248
31	Minnesota	$43,266
32	Texas	$42,545
33	Missouri	$43,019
34	Michigan	$41,298
35	Kansas	$39,449
36	Kentucky	$40,211
37	Tennessee	$37,754
38	Wisconsin	$39,358
39	Florida	$39,650
40	Arkansas	$40,040
41	New Mexico	$40,394
42	Virginia	$38,376
43	Utah	$36,241
44	Idaho	$35,445
45	North Carolina	$35,998
46	Mississippi	$38,321
47	South Dakota	$31,162
48	West Virginia	$35,122
49	Georgia	$39,020
50	Alabama	$35,978
51	Nebraska	$28,592

Finish carpenter best states FAQs

What is the best state for finish carpenters?

What is the highest paying state for finish carpenters?

What is the worst state for finish carpenters?

Have more questions? See all answers to common construction and extraction questions.

Search for finish carpenter jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse construction and extraction jobs

Total finish carpenter jobs:	35
Average annual salary:	$51,654
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$36,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$73,000
Location Quotient:	1.53

Best states for a finish carpenter

10 best states for finish carpenters in 2025

1. Vermont

2. Maine

3. Washington

4. Nevada

5. Massachusetts

6. North Dakota

7. New Jersey

8. New Hampshire

9. Alaska

10. Connecticut