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BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2031 · 26,960 WA workers · L&I registered

Carpenter Salary in Washington 2026,
$74,190 Median | BLS Data by City

State-specific BLS pay data for all 26,960+ carpenters in Washington, the city breakdown, union scale versus open shop, L&I contractor registration, sector rates, and take-home in a state with no income tax but real payroll premiums.

Updated July 2026 · BLS OEWS May 2025

Compiled by GlobalCybers Labor Market Research · Reviewed by GlobalCybers Data Desk, Wage data review · See methodology & sources →

WA Median
$74,190
$35.67/hr
vs National
+$13,610
22.5% above US median
WA P90
$119,920
$57.65/hr · top earners
WA Job Growth
+8%
2022–2032 · WA Employment Security Dept. via Projections Central
🤑Washington has no state income tax, but it is not a zero-deduction state: employees pay Paid Family & Medical Leave premiums, the WA Cares long-term-care premium and an L&I workers' compensation employee share, which together take roughly 1.5% of gross.
Direct Answer

How much do carpenters make in Washington in 2026?

Washington carpenters earn a median $74,190/yr ($35.67/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025, about 22.5% ABOVE the $60,580 national median, one of the strongest carpenter premiums in the country. Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue leads at $76,410, with Bremerton ($65,000), Olympia ($63,260) and Spokane ($61,900) behind it. Washington has no journeyman carpenter licence, L&I registers contractors and runs the apprenticeship system, so pay is driven by union scale and sector: commercial and high-rise work reaches the state P75 of $92,660 and beyond. → Full carpenter career guide, career path, credentials & placement →

Note: $74,190 blends every experience level, apprentice through master. For pay by license level alone, see Verified Placement Data below.

Key takeaways
  • Washington carpenters earn a median $74,190/yr ($35.67/hr), about 22.5% ABOVE the $60,580 national median.
  • Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue leads at $76,410; Spokane, on the dry side of the state, runs $14,500 lower at $61,900.
  • Washington has no journeyman carpenter licence. L&I registers contractors and runs the apprenticeship; union scale drives the top of the range.
  • There is no state income tax, but Paid Family & Medical Leave, WA Cares and the L&I employee share still take roughly 1.5% of gross.
Washington at a glance
Median salary$74,190
Median hourly$35.67
Range (P10–P90)$52,330–$119,920
Top-paying metroSeattle–Tacoma–Bellevue · $76,410
vs national22.5% above
State income tax0% (PFML, WA Cares and L&I premiums still apply)

Washington Carpenter Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025

$52,330
P10
$60,630
P25
$74,190
Median
$92,660
P75
$119,920
P90
Carpenter salary distribution in Washington: 10th percentile $52,330, 25th percentile $60,630, median $74,190, 75th percentile $92,660, 90th percentile $119,920 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025).Carpenter annual pay percentiles · Washington10th to 90th percentile of annual base wage$52,330P10$60,630P25$74,190Median$92,660P75$119,920P90Entry levelTop earners
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

GlobalCybers Verified Placement Data · last verified July 2026

How does BLS compare to what Washington carpenters actually get placed at?

BLS OEWS publishes one blended Washington wage for this occupation and does not break pay out by Washington license level. The benchmark column below is GlobalCybers' own by-level estimate for Washington; the verified column is the median of actual placements made through GlobalCybers' Washington carpenter network.

Washington License LevelBenchmark median by level (GlobalCybers estimate)GlobalCybers Verified Median (live)Gap vs benchmarkPlacements (n, 12 mo)
Apprentice Carpenter (L&I registered)$52,330$54,200+3.6%11
Journey-Level Carpenter$74,190$78,900+6.3%22
Foreman / Lead Carpenter$92,660$99,700+7.6%9
Superintendent / Registered Contractor$119,920$129,600+8.1%4

All verified medians: GlobalCybers Washington carpenter placements, trailing 12 months, updated July 2026. The benchmark column is a GlobalCybers by-level estimate, not a BLS publication — BLS publishes no wage by licence level. Tap a level below for the full gap breakdown.

Benchmark median by level (GlobalCybers estimate)
$74,190
Level estimate for Washington; BLS OEWS May 2025 publishes one blended wage only
Verified placement median (live)
$78,900
+6.3% vs benchmark
n = 22 placements · last 12 months

Where the gap comes from — Journey-Level Carpenter

+2.0%
+2.5%
+1.0%

Data time lag +2.0% — OEWS publishes ~10 months late; Puget Sound commercial demand tightened over the same window.

Schedule overtime excluded by OES +2.5% — Commercial and high-rise schedules add overtime at 1.5x, which the base BLS wage does not include.

New-hire (switcher) premium +1.0% — BLS averages incumbents; journey-level carpenters moving to commercial work command more.

Verified-candidate selection +0.8% — Apprenticeship-verified, safety-screened carpenters in our network sit in the upper half of the distribution.

Journey-level carpenters run meaningfully above BLS, Puget Sound schedule overtime is simply not captured in a base annual wage.

Recent verified Washington placements (anonymized)
Foreman · Seattle high-rise commercial GC$49.00/hr + benefits fund
Journey-level · Bellevue multifamily framing contractor$39.50/hr
Journey-level · Bremerton public-works concrete formwork$37.25/hr
Apprentice (Yr 3) · Spokane commercial interiors$26.00/hr

Company names withheld per employer confidentiality agreements. Roles shown are a representative sample, not an exhaustive list.

Methodology & Sources

How the Washington carpenter pay figures on this page are built

Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2031, Washington statewide estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them. OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation in Washington; it does not break pay out by credential or licence level.

Pay by level: the level and career-stage tables on this page distribute Washington's own published BLS pay range across the tiers employers actually hire at. They are GlobalCybers estimates aligned to published percentiles, not separate BLS publications.

Verified (GlobalCybers): The median base wage of candidates GlobalCybers placed into Washington carpenter roles, by Washington license level, over the trailing 12 months. Every placement requires a confirmed Washingtonlicense record and a signed offer letter before it's counted — no self-reported or unverified salary data is included.

Sample sizes are modest (n=4–22 depending on license level) because this reflects our own placement volume, not a market-wide survey — treat it as a directional, real-world data point alongside BLS, not a replacement for it.

Full site methodology & data sources →

Washington Markets

Which Washington city pays carpenters the most in 2026?

BLS MSA medians for Washington's largest carpenter markets — local industrial demand matters more than city size alone.

City / MSABLS Median (MSA-level)
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue$76,410
Bremerton–Silverdale$65,000
Olympia–Lacey–Tumwater$63,260
Spokane$61,900

BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue leads the state at $76,410.

Getting Licensed

How to become a licensed carpenter in Washington, step by step

  1. 1
    Join an L&I-registered apprenticeship

    Apply to an L&I-registered carpentry apprenticeship, commonly through the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, and start earning a percentage of journey-level scale on day one.

  2. 2
    Complete the required hours

    Log the apprenticeship's on-the-job hours plus the classroom instruction the L&I-approved programme requires.

  3. 3
    Reach journey level

    Complete the apprenticeship to reach journey-level status. Washington has no state journeyman carpenter licence, so the apprenticeship completion is your credential.

  4. 4
    Register with L&I to contract

    If you want to work for yourself, register as a construction contractor with Washington L&I, which requires a surety bond and liability insurance.

Washington License Levels

How much more does a Washington licence earn you in Washington?

Washington licenses issued by Washington L&I (Department of Labor & Industries), which registers construction contractors and runs the state apprenticeship system. Washington has no journeyman carpenter licence. Each level's median pay in Washington markets.

Washington LicenseWA Pay RangeWA MedianKey Note
Apprentice (L&I registered)$52K–$60K$52,330Registered in an L&I-approved apprenticeship, earning a rising percentage of journey-level scale while logging hours; pay sits at the Washington P10.
Journey-Level Carpenter$61K–$92K$74,190Frames, forms and finishes independently on commercial and residential work; union scale in the Puget Sound sets the upper half. This is the Washington median.
Foreman / Lead Carpenter$88K–$120K$92,660Runs the crew, owns layout and schedule on commercial and high-rise jobs; pay tracks the Washington P75.
💡

Washington License ROI: Upgrading from an L&I-registered Apprentice to Journey-Level Carpenter in Washington adds a median $21,860/yr. No exam fee: Washington has no journeyman carpenter licence, completion of the registered apprenticeship is the credential. Full return in under 4 months. GlobalCybers pays your exam fees after placement →

Career Progression

How does carpenter pay grow with years of experience in Washington?

License level sets your pay floor; years in the field (and the responsibility that comes with them) move you up within it.

ExperienceTypical License LevelWA Pay RangeWA Median
0–1 yrApprentice (L&I registered)$48K–$56K$52,330
2–4 yrsApprentice → journey-eligible$56K–$68K$60,630
5–9 yrsJourney-level carpenter$66K–$86K$74,190
10–15 yrsLead / foreman$84K–$105K$92,660
16+ yrsSuperintendent / contractor$100K–$150K+$119,920

GlobalCybers analysis of WA placements by years in trade, cross-referenced against BLS OEWS experience-tier estimates. Ranges widen at senior tiers as crew-lead, bonded-contractor and business-owner pay diverges.

Washington Sectors

Which Washington sector pays carpenters the most?

Washington carpentry splits at the Cascades. Puget Sound commercial and high-rise work at union scale is a different market from eastern-Washington residential.

SectorJourney-Level RangeForeman RangeSector Peak
Commercial & High-Rise (Seattle, Bellevue)$38–$50/hr$46–$60/hr$125,000+
Concrete Formwork / Heavy Civil$36–$48/hr$44–$56/hr$115,000
Multifamily / Mid-Rise$34–$44/hr$42–$52/hr$104,000
Public Works & Naval Yard (Bremerton)$34–$44/hr$42–$52/hr$100,000
Commercial Interiors / Tenant Improvement$30–$40/hr$38–$48/hr$92,000
Residential (east of the Cascades)$25–$34/hr$32–$42/hr$76,000

State vs National

How does Washington carpenter pay compare to the national median?

Where Washington OUTPERFORMS
+

Union scale, the Pacific Northwest carpenters' council negotiates journey-level scale plus a pension and health package that sets the Puget Sound market rate.

+

22.5% above the US median, $74,190 against $60,580 nationally, and the state P90 of $119,920 is nearly $20,000 above the national P90.

+

No state income tax, a Washington carpenter keeps more of the same gross than a counterpart in Oregon or California.

Where Washington UNDERPERFORMS
−

Not a zero-deduction state, Paid Family & Medical Leave, WA Cares and the L&I employee share together take roughly 1.5% of gross.

−

East-west split, Spokane ($61,900) pays about $14,500 less than Seattle for the same trade.

−

High cost of living in the Puget Sound absorbs a meaningful share of the wage premium, particularly on housing.

By Employer Type

Does union vs. non-union or employer type change carpenter pay in Washington?

In Washington the carpenters' council scale sets the benchmark, and open-shop employers price against it to compete for the same crews.

Employer TypeJW Hourly RangeBenefitsNotes
Union Commercial GC (Puget Sound)$38–$50/hrPension + health fundHigh-rise and commercial; the top of the Washington market
Heavy Civil / Formwork Contractor$36–$48/hrStrong benefitsBridges, infrastructure and concrete formwork
Public Works / Naval Yard$34–$44/hrPrevailing wage + benefitsBremerton and state projects; prevailing-wage rates apply
Open-Shop Multifamily Contractor$30–$44/hrVaries, often limitedLargest segment of Washington carpentry employment
Residential / Small Shop$25–$36/hrOften minimalCommon east of the Cascades; lowest ceiling without contractor registration

Beyond Base Pay

What's a Washington carpenter's total compensation, not just base wage?

BLS and verified-placement medians above are base wage only. Total comp for a WA carpenter typically adds the following on top.

ComponentTypical WA ValueNotes
Base wage (journey-level median)$78,900/yrGlobalCybers verified Washington journey-level placement median, see above
Schedule overtime+$4K–$16K/yrPuget Sound commercial and high-rise schedules; not guaranteed
Union fringe package (where applicable)$18,000–$28,000/yr valuePension, health and vacation funds on top of scale; union employers only
Prevailing-wage uplift (public works)+$2–$6/hrState and federal public projects only
Tools & PPE allowance$400–$1,200/yrCommon at larger commercial contractors
🧾Calculate your Washington take-home paySee your actual net pay after tax on any WA carpenter offer →📈Salary CalculatorCompare your offer to market rate by role, license level & city →

FAQ

Washington Carpenter Salary, Frequently Asked Questions

How much do carpenters make in Washington?

Washington carpenters earn a median $74,190/yr ($35.67/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025, about 22.5% above the $60,580 national median. The statewide range runs from roughly $52,330 (P10) to $119,920 (P90). Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue pays the most at $76,410; Spokane is lowest of the major metros at $61,900.

Do carpenters need a licence in Washington?

No. Washington issues no journeyman carpenter licence. What the state regulates is contracting: if you work for yourself you must register as a contractor with L&I, which requires a surety bond and liability insurance. Working carpenters instead progress through an L&I-registered apprenticeship, commonly a union programme.

Which Washington city pays carpenters the most?

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue leads at $76,410, driven by commercial, high-rise and multifamily construction across the Puget Sound. Bremerton ($65,000) follows on naval-yard and public work, then Olympia ($63,260). Spokane ($61,900) trails by about $14,500, reflecting a much smaller commercial market east of the Cascades.

Is union carpentry worth it in Washington?

It is what pushes the top of the distribution. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters negotiates journey-level scale plus a pension and health package for Puget Sound commercial work, and that scale is the main reason Washington's P75 ($92,660) and P90 ($119,920) sit so far above the national figures for the same trade.

What does a Washington carpenter actually keep after tax?

Washington has no state income tax, but it is not deduction-free: employees pay Paid Family & Medical Leave premiums, the WA Cares long-term-care premium and an L&I workers' compensation employee share, together roughly 1.5% of gross. On the $74,190 median a single filer keeps about $58,600 after federal tax, FICA and those state premiums.

Why does Washington pay carpenters 22.5% above the national median?

Union density plus a high-cost commercial market. The Puget Sound has one of the strongest carpenter union presences in the country and a continuous pipeline of commercial, high-rise and multifamily work, so the negotiated scale sets the market rate even for many open-shop employers competing for the same crews.

How wide is the gap between the west and east of the state?

Wide. Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue ($76,410) pays about $14,500 more than Spokane ($61,900) for the same trade. The Cascades split Washington into two labour markets: dense union commercial work on the west side and a smaller, largely open-shop residential and light-commercial market on the east.

Do these figures include overtime and benefits?

No. BLS reports base wage only. Union carpenters add a substantial fringe package (pension, health, vacation) on top of scale, and Puget Sound project schedules routinely add overtime at 1.5x. Counting fringes, total compensation for a journey-level union carpenter runs well above the published $74,190 median.

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Data Sources
BLS ReferenceOEWS May 2025
SOC Code47-2031
WA Workers26,960
License BoardWashington
State Tax0% (PFML, WA Cares and L&I premiums still apply)
Verified Placementsn=46, trailing 12mo
Reviewed byGlobalCybers Data Desk
Verify on BLS.gov →Full methodology →
$74,190
Washington BLS median · 2026
$76,410
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, highest WA city
0% (PFML, WA Cares and L&I premiums still apply)
Washington state income tax
+8%
WA job growth 2022–2032 · WA Employment Security Dept. via Projections Central

Outlook & openings: Washington carpenter demand is projected to grow faster than the national rate for the trade, driven by Puget Sound commercial and multifamily construction and by public infrastructure work (WA Employment Security Department / Projections Central).

Your career research journey in Washington

Do your homework, then let the network do the rest.
💰
1. Know your salary
🪪
2. Know your licences & certifications
🧭
3. Career guide
🎤
4. Interview preparation

Get the job, then keep rising

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Get Job — Join Network →
🚀
Step 5
Get matching jobs

Set your intent, matching jobs come to you. No applying.

📈
Step 6
Career advancement plan

A roadmap to your next licence tier and higher pay band.

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Step 7
We fund your fees

Once placed, we cover all certification, licence & career-guide fees.

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Related · Carpenter

Everything for carpenters in one place

Washington carpenter pay, licensing, interview prep, and hiring — cross-linked so you can move from state salary data to the licence steps and local jobs in one place.

Salary DataCarpenter Salary, National →Career & GuidesCarpenter Career Guide →Career & GuidesCarpenter Interview Questions →Career & GuidesWA Carpenter Licence (Washington) →Salary DataCarpenter Salary, Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue →Hiring & StaffingHire Carpenters, Washington →IndustryConstruction Industry Hub →