Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Fairbanks-College, AK make a median of $84,970 a year, or about $40.85 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $152K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.21), that's roughly $82,327 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,676/month, or 29.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Fairbanks-College?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fairbanks-College’s Regional Price Parity (103.21). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About carpenters
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What this looks like in Fairbanks-College
Fairbanks-College sits well above the national pay line for carpenters, local pay runs about 40% higher than the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,676/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for carpenters in metros near Fairbanks-College, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $73K | $69K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fairbanks-College, AK
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $152K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Carpenters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85K | +41% | 4,810 |
| Illinois | $79K | +30% | 19,570 |
| California | $76K | +25% | 100,750 |
| Massachusetts | $75K | +24% | 18,540 |
| Washington | $74K | +22% | 26,960 |
| Alaska | $74K | +22% | 2,560 |
| New York | $72K | +19% | 40,630 |
| Minnesota | $65K | +7% | 14,930 |
| Connecticut | $64K | +6% | 5,160 |
| New Jersey | $64K | +6% | 14,230 |
| Maryland | $63K | +4% | 9,770 |
| Oregon | $63K | +4% | 15,110 |
| Indiana | $63K | +4% | 15,240 |
| Colorado | $63K | +4% | 12,740 |
| Vermont | $62K | +3% | 3,080 |
| Nevada | $62K | +3% | 12,700 |
| Maine | $62K | +3% | 5,170 |
| District of Columbia | $62K | +2% | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $62K | +2% | 18,590 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +2% | 13,880 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | +1% | 3,760 |
| Missouri | $61K | +0% | 14,410 |
| Rhode Island | $61K | +0% | 2,580 |
| Ohio | $61K | +0% | 18,450 |
| New Mexico | $60K | -1% | 3,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | -2% | 30,630 |
| Delaware | $59K | -2% | 2,250 |
| Montana | $59K | -3% | 4,030 |
| Arizona | $59K | -3% | 16,230 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -4% | 2,360 |
| Iowa | $58K | -5% | 5,770 |
| Kansas | $57K | -6% | 5,210 |
| Wyoming | $57K | -6% | 2,260 |
| Virginia | $56K | -8% | 20,460 |
| Kentucky | $53K | -13% | 8,540 |
| Utah | $52K | -14% | 15,220 |
| Idaho | $52K | -14% | 8,380 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -16% | 8,200 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -16% | 6,950 |
| Nebraska | $50K | -17% | 5,710 |
| Louisiana | $50K | -18% | 8,990 |
| Florida | $50K | -18% | 39,300 |
| Georgia | $49K | -19% | 9,190 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -19% | 13,480 |
| Texas | $49K | -19% | 33,540 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -20% | 3,670 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -20% | 2,950 |
| Alabama | $48K | -20% | 5,560 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -21% | 4,560 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -21% | 4,030 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -23% | 3,820 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Fairbanks-College numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fairbanks-College?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,676/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpenters in Fairbanks-College?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,207/month. At HUD’s $1,676/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Fairbanks-College?
Local pay is 40% above the national median — $85K here vs. $61K nationally.
How does Fairbanks-College compare to the national average for carpenters?
Fairbanks-College pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s +40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Fairbanks-College, AK?
The median is $84,970 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,450, and experienced carpenters can clear $152,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Fairbanks-College?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,680/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,676/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a carpenters salary go in Fairbanks-College?
Fairbanks-College has a Regional Price Parity of 103.21 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median carpenters salary is worth about $82,327 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.