WAGE DATA · SOC 47-2031

CARPENTER PAY
IN PENNSYLVANIA.

Pennsylvania carpenters earn a median of $28.48/hr (BLS 2024). 29,900 workers employed statewide. Compare market wages, federal prevailing rates, and per-diem baselines below.

// BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS · STATEWIDEOEWS · MAY 2024
HOURLY MEDIAN
$28.48/hr
MEAN HOURLY
$30.13/hr
ANNUAL MEDIAN
$59K
EMPLOYED
29,900
10th · $18.90MEDIAN · $28.4890th · $44.31
// DAVIS-BACON · FEDERAL PREVAILING WAGEDATA SOON

Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates for carpenters in Pennsylvania will be imported from SAM.gov in our next data refresh. These are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — crucial for comparing offers against the federal floor.

// GSA PER DIEM · FY 2026GSA

Lodging + M&IE by City

The federal government's per-diem rate is the baseline most contractors use. If your job's per diem is below this, you're subsidizing the contractor.

Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$276
/day · meals $92
Hershey
Hershey
$238
/day · meals $80
Pittsburgh
Allegheny
$218
/day · meals $80
Chester / Radnor / Essington
Delaware
$207
/day · meals $80
Montgomery
Montgomery
$206
/day · meals $80
Bucks
Bucks
$199
/day · meals $80
State College
Centre
$198
/day · meals $74
Harrisburg
Dauphin excluding Hershey
$198
/day · meals $74
Malvern / Frazer / Berwyn
Chester
$198
/day · meals $80
Lancaster
Lancaster
$197
/day · meals $74
Reading
Berks
$191
/day · meals $74
Allentown / Easton / Bethlehem
Lehigh / Northampton
$189
/day · meals $74
// ROADHAND COMMUNITY DATABE FIRST

What are workers actually earning?

Government data is a baseline. Real take-home pay — including per diem, OT rules, housing allowances — comes from workers on the ground. Submit your pay anonymously to help the next hand.

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OTHER TRADES IN PENNSYLVANIA

ElectricianWelderPipefitterIronworkerMillwrightBoilermakerOperating EngineerPlumberInsulator

CARPENTER PAY IN OTHER STATES

AlaskaCaliforniaColoradoLouisianaMontanaNew MexicoNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaTexasWest VirginiaWyoming

FAQ

How much does a carpenter earn in Pennsylvania?+
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2024), carpenters in Pennsylvania earn a median of $28.48/hr. That's roughly $59K/year for a full-time schedule at straight time.
What's the top pay for carpenters in Pennsylvania?+
The top 10% of carpenters in Pennsylvania earn more than $44.31/hr (BLS 2024). That represents experienced workers, supervisors, or those on high-per-diem travel contracts.
How many carpenters work in Pennsylvania?+
BLS reports 29,900 carpenters employed in Pennsylvania as of 2024. Numbers fluctuate with major construction cycles — when big projects like LNG terminals or data centers start, demand spikes.
Do carpenters in Pennsylvania get per diem?+
Per diem is standard on travel contracts. The federal GSA baseline for Pennsylvania is typically $150-$260/day depending on the city. Contractors may set their per diem higher or lower — if it's below the GSA floor, you're subsidizing the contractor's housing budget out of pocket.
What's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage?+
Davis-Bacon rates are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — base pay plus fringe benefits. Every contractor working a federal job must pay at least the Davis-Bacon rate for that county and trade. Private-sector jobs don't have to match, but many do as a competitive floor.