Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Tennessee make a median of $50,830 a year, or about $24.44 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $56,616 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 34.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Tennessee?
About carpenters
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for carpenters in Tennessee runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (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, Tennessee
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $56K | +10% | 3,040 |
| Chattanooga | $51K | -0% | 620 |
| Memphis | $51K | -0% | 1,240 |
| Knoxville | $50K | -1% | 1,280 |
| Morristown | $49K | -3% | 130 |
| Clarksville | $49K | -3% | 290 |
| Cleveland | $48K | -5% | 80 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $48K | -5% | 390 |
| Jackson | $48K | -6% | 170 |
| Johnson City | $48K | -6% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpenters in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,248/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $51K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for carpenters?
Tennessee pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Tennessee?
The median is $50,830 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,460, and experienced carpenters can clear $66,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,573/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 34% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $56,616 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.