Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Alabama make a median of $48,220 a year, or about $23.18 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $54,572 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 33% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Alabama?
About carpenters
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for carpenters in Alabama runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $52K | +7% | 170 |
| Decatur | $51K | +6% | 190 |
| Birmingham | $50K | +5% | 1,660 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $49K | +2% | 70 |
| Huntsville | $49K | +2% | 430 |
| Tuscaloosa | $49K | +1% | 260 |
| Mobile | $49K | +1% | 630 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $48K | -1% | 200 |
| Montgomery | $47K | -2% | 300 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $47K | -3% | 270 |
| Dothan | $43K | -11% | 130 |
| Gadsden | $41K | -15% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpenters in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,066/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is carpenter a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $48K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for carpenters?
Alabama pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Alabama?
The median is $48,220 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,430, and experienced carpenters can clear $63,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,211/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 33.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a carpenters salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median carpenters salary is worth about $54,572 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do carpenters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.