Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Nebraska make a median of $50,320 a year, or about $24.19 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $55,880 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Nebraska?
About carpenters
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for carpenters in Nebraska runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,113/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Nebraska
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters salary by metro in Nebraska
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $53K | +5% | 3,230 |
| Lincoln | $50K | -1% | 1,020 |
| Grand Island | $48K | -4% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 32.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/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 Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,335/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Nebraska?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $50K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for carpenters?
Nebraska pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Nebraska?
The median is $50,320 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,920, and experienced carpenters can clear $72,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,388/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 32.9% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $55,880 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.