Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Missouri make a median of $60,840 a year, or about $29.25 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $68,383 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Missouri?
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What this looks like in Missouri
Carpenters pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $61K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $71K | +17% | 7,210 |
| Cape Girardeau | $64K | +5% | 180 |
| Kansas City | $62K | +2% | 4,540 |
| St. Joseph | $60K | -1% | 220 |
| Jefferson City | $57K | -6% | 430 |
| Columbia | $56K | -8% | 510 |
| Springfield | $52K | -15% | 920 |
| Joplin | $49K | -20% | 300 |
Compare to other states
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 27% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpenters in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,322/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $61K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for carpenters?
Missouri pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Missouri?
The median is $60,840 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,700, and experienced carpenters can clear $96,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 27% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $68,383 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.