Carpenter salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Carpenters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $80,440 a year ($38.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,450 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $60,580. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $79,000. There are 3.2 carpenters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $83,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for carpenters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,220 | $19.82 |
| 25th percentile | $58,770 | $28.26 |
| Median | $80,440 | $38.68 |
| 75th percentile | $113,970 | $54.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,450 | $56.95 |
| Average (mean) | $83,110 | $39.96 |
Half of carpenters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,703.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,351.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,093.85 |
| Weekly | $1,546.92 |
| Hourly | $38.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,440 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Carpenter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $95,280 | 120 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $91,970 | 260 |
| Decatur, IL | $87,220 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $76,970 | 290 |
| Bloomington, IL | $75,470 | 170 |
| Peoria, IL | $75,280 | 780 |
| Rockford, IL | $72,770 | 810 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $70,990 | 7,210 |
| Columbus, IN | $67,780 | 190 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $66,980 | 310 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $65,520 | 1,170 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $65,070 | 4,960 |
| Evansville, IN | $64,690 | 790 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $63,740 | 180 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $63,050 | 300 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $61,690 | 500 |
| Bloomington, IN | $61,360 | 270 |
| Kokomo, IN | $61,000 | 120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $60,560 | 280 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,440 | 670 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $60,400 | 1,240 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $60,110 | 4,610 |
| Muncie, IN | $59,890 | 160 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $56,520 | 2,990 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $51,700 | 310 |
Highest-paying states for carpenters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 |
| Illinois | $79,000 |
| California | $75,920 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 |
| Washington | $74,190 |
| Alaska | $73,860 |
| New York | $72,330 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 |
See Carpenter pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| Electrician | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $103,100 | $49.57 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Roofer | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $81,020 | $38.95 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $95,310 | $45.82 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Glazier | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $70,370 | $33.83 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $103,690 | $49.85 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $80,340 | $38.63 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for carpenters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $80,440 a year, or $38.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid carpenters make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of carpenters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $118,450 a year. The top 25% earn $113,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for carpenters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,220 a year, and a quarter of carpenters earn $58,770 or less.
How many carpenters work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 14,220 carpenters are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.