Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Utah make a median of $52,360 a year, or about $25.17 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $53,136 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 39.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Utah?
About carpenters
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What this looks like in Utah
Pay for carpenters in Utah runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $61K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,350/month, which is 38.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for carpenterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $60K | +14% | 6,420 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $53K | +2% | 3,080 |
| Logan | $50K | -5% | 490 |
| Ogden | $48K | -8% | 2,150 |
| St. George | $47K | -10% | 1,110 |
Compare to other states
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 38.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,194/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $52K here vs. $61K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for carpenters?
Utah pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Utah?
The median is $52,360 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,560, and experienced carpenters can clear $75,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,473/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 38.9% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $53,136 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.