Helpers--Carpenters Salary
In Waco, TX, helpers--carpenters earn $41,010 at the median, or about $19.72 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $41K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.55), which stretches that salary to about $44,311 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $973/month, about 33% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K get you in Waco?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waco’s Regional Price Parity (92.55). 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 helpers--carpenters
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What this looks like in Waco
Helpers--carpenters pay in Waco tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $44K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $973/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.55 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for helpers--carpenters in metros near Waco, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $45K | $45K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $44K | $42K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $46K | $47K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $42K | $45K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waco, TX
Entry-level helpers--carpenters (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $41K or more, a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Carpenters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Helpers--Carpenters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $58K | +33% | N/A |
| Colorado | $51K | +16% | 200 |
| Connecticut | $50K | +15% | 200 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +15% | N/A |
| Maine | $50K | +14% | 160 |
| California | $50K | +14% | 2,670 |
| Massachusetts | $48K | +10% | 630 |
| New York | $48K | +9% | 1,110 |
| Arkansas | $47K | +7% | 100 |
| Washington | $46K | +5% | 620 |
| Illinois | $46K | +4% | N/A |
| Michigan | $45K | +3% | 230 |
| Ohio | $45K | +2% | 540 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +2% | N/A |
| Vermont | $45K | +2% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +1% | 840 |
| Texas | $44K | +0% | 2,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | +0% | 560 |
| Virginia | $44K | -0% | 1,200 |
| Oregon | $43K | -1% | 220 |
| Indiana | $43K | -2% | 160 |
| Montana | $43K | -3% | N/A |
| Idaho | $42K | -4% | N/A |
| Arizona | $42K | -5% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $41K | -7% | 860 |
| North Carolina | $41K | -7% | 650 |
| Florida | $40K | -8% | 2,120 |
| Georgia | $40K | -8% | 410 |
| Iowa | $40K | -9% | 100 |
| Tennessee | $40K | -9% | 440 |
| Nebraska | $40K | -9% | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | -10% | 150 |
| Maryland | $39K | -10% | 580 |
| Alaska | $39K | -10% | 90 |
| Alabama | $39K | -11% | 410 |
| Kansas | $38K | -13% | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -13% | 150 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -15% | 50 |
| Nevada | $36K | -17% | 540 |
| South Carolina | $36K | -18% | 200 |
| Utah | $36K | -18% | 330 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -19% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $35K | -19% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -21% | 330 |
| Delaware | $34K | -23% | 190 |
| West Virginia | $34K | -23% | 320 |
| Missouri | $32K | -26% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track helpers--carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Waco numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waco?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 33.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $973/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--carpenters in Waco?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--carpenters typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $973/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--carpenter a high-paying job in Waco?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $44K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Waco compare to the national average for helpers--carpenters?
Waco pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--carpenters make in Waco, TX?
The median is $41,010 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced helpers--carpenters can clear $41,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Waco?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,916/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $973/month, which eats 33.4% 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 helpers--carpenters salary go in Waco?
Waco has a Regional Price Parity of 92.55 (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 helpers--carpenters salary is worth about $44,311 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--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.