Helpers--Carpenters Salary
In Wisconsin, helpers--carpenters earn $39,480 at the median, or about $18.98 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $41,853 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 44.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Wisconsin?
About helpers--carpenters
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Helpers--carpenters pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $44K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 44.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level helpers--carpenters (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Carpenters salary by metro in Wisconsin
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $35K | -11% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 44.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--carpenters in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--carpenters typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,605/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $44K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for helpers--carpenters?
Wisconsin pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--carpenters make in Wisconsin?
The median is $39,480 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,750, and experienced helpers--carpenters can clear $56,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,725/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 44.1% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $41,853 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.