BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Carpenters in Kentucky

$54,820 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$26.36 per hour

▼ 16.5% below U.S. average39th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$54,820per year
Median$52,680per year
Hourly$26.36per hour
10th – 90th percentile$36,760 – $72,960per year

Carpenters Pay Range in Kentucky

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$36,760
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$45,940
  • 50th Percentile — Median$52,680
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$61,260
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$72,960

Half of Carpenters in Kentucky earn more than $52,680. The top 10% make $72,960 or more, while entry-level workers start around $36,760.

Carpenters in Kentucky: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Kentucky ranks 39th of 51 states for Carpenters pay, at $54,820 per year (16.5% below the U.S. average of $65,630).
  • 8,540 people work as Carpenters in Kentucky — 1.3% of all U.S. Carpenters jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.99: Carpenters jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,760; the top 10% earn over $72,960.
  • Hourly equivalent: $26.36 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $87,480.
  • Among construction jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($74,220).

Carpenters Job Market in Kentucky

Key factors affecting compensation

Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Carpenters here earn $54,820 on average, placing the state 39th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $54,820 is roughly equivalent to $66,048 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Virginia ($55,390), Utah ($55,360), South Carolina ($55,350) are the closest alternatives for Carpenters weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Carpenters salary in Kentucky?

The average Carpenters salary in Kentucky is $54,820 per year (median $52,680), which is 16.5% below the national average of $65,630.

How does Kentucky rank for Carpenters pay?

Kentucky ranks 39th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($87,480/yr).

How much do entry-level Carpenters make in Kentucky?

The lowest-paid 10% of Carpenters in Kentucky earn about $36,760 per year and the 25th percentile is $45,940.

How much do Carpenters make per hour in Kentucky?

About $26.36 per hour, based on the $54,820 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Carpenters work in Kentucky?

BLS counts 8,540 Carpenters jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).

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