Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Idaho make a median of $52,000 a year, or about $25 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $55,390 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Idaho?
About carpenters
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for carpenters in Idaho runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,136/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Idaho
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters salary by metro in Idaho
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | $57K | +10% | 150 |
| Coeur d'Alene | $56K | +8% | 790 |
| Idaho Falls | $52K | +0% | 750 |
| Boise City | $51K | -2% | 4,080 |
| Pocatello | $51K | -3% | 340 |
| Twin Falls | $47K | -9% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 32.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/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 Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,211/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Idaho?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $52K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for carpenters?
Idaho pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Idaho?
The median is $52,000 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,850, and experienced carpenters can clear $75,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,489/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 32.6% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $55,390 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.