Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Michigan City-La Porte, IN make a median of $91,970 a year, or about $44.22 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.68), which stretches that salary to about $100,316 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,152/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $92K get you in Michigan City-La Porte?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Michigan City-La Porte’s Regional Price Parity (91.68). 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 Michigan City-La Porte
Michigan City-La Porte sits well above the national pay line for carpenters, local pay runs about 52% higher than the U.S. median of $61K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,152/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.68 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Michigan City-La Porte offers a genuinely strong financial position for carpenterss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for carpenters in metros near Michigan City-La Porte, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $65K | $68K |
| Fort Wayne | $60K | $65K |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $66K | $73K |
| Evansville | $65K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan City-La Porte, IN
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $42K 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 Michigan City-La Porte numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan City-La Porte?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,152/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpenters in Michigan City-La Porte?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,995/month. At HUD’s $1,152/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Michigan City-La Porte?
Local pay is 52% above the national median — $92K here vs. $61K nationally.
How does Michigan City-La Porte compare to the national average for carpenters?
Michigan City-La Porte pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s +52%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.68), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?
The median is $91,970 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,910, and experienced carpenters can clear $91,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Michigan City-La Porte?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,857/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,152/month, which eats 19.7% 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 Michigan City-La Porte?
Michigan City-La Porte has a Regional Price Parity of 91.68 (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 $100,316 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.