Helpers--Carpenters Salary
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, helpers--carpenters earn $44,380 at the median, or about $21.34 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $40,760 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 73.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Helpers--carpenters pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $44K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 74.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for helpers--carpenters in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $47K | $48K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $36K | $35K |
| Richmond | $43K | $44K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $42K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level helpers--carpenters (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $22K 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 |
| Vermont | $45K | +2% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +2% | N/A |
| 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 with published data
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 74.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--carpenters typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,153/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 104% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $44K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for helpers--carpenters?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--carpenters make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $44,380 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,880, and experienced helpers--carpenters can clear $57,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,009/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 74.6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median helpers--carpenters salary is worth about $40,760 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.