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These figures reflect 2025 New York wage data for Carpenters (SOC 47-2031), with the entry figure representing the 10th percentile and the top figure representing the 90th percentile.
Last updated October 1, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Hiring guide · New York
Learn how to hire qualified carpenters, verify local requirements, and assess practical skills for New York construction projects.
Carpenters in New York work across residential construction, commercial building, remodeling, framing, finish work, public projects, and specialty construction. Their responsibilities can include structural framing, concrete forms, doors and windows, flooring, cabinets, trim, and other building components. Strong candidates should read plans accurately, measure and mark materials carefully, operate tools safely, and adapt when field conditions differ from drawings. Employers also need to account for New York’s locally administered contractor licensing rules, workers’ compensation requirements, and additional wage requirements that can apply to public work. This guide helps employers assess experience, verify relevant requirements, find qualified candidates, and ask practical questions that reveal whether a carpenter can perform the work required.
Candidate availability moves week to week. What does not move is the screening: the certifications below are what decide whether someone can be badged onto your site at all.
Carpentry typically develops through supervised work, independent skilled work, and increasing leadership responsibility.
An apprentice builds foundational carpentry skills while working under experienced tradespeople and completing related instruction.
A journeyman works more independently, handles skilled tasks, and contributes to planning, problem-solving, and quality control.
A master or lead carpenter is an experienced industry-level worker who coordinates people, work quality, materials, and more complex assignments.
Budget $34.77 an hour for a qualified carpenter in New York, from $22.53 at entry level to $58.84 at the top. Add a quarter to a third on top for payroll taxes, insurance and equipment, and price overtime at time and a half.
See the full carpenter salary guide →Before hiring, verify the project’s local licensing requirements, worker coverage, safety obligations, and any special rules tied to the type of construction.
New York employers can recruit carpenters through the statewide job bank, registered apprenticeship sponsors, and established construction training programs.
Use hands-on questions to determine whether a carpenter can work accurately, safely, and independently at the level required.
Generic construction descriptions
No project-specific carpentry work
Unclear employment dates
Unverified apprenticeship claims
No evidence of plan reading
No specialty carpentry experience
Skills unrelated to position
A realistic schedule for a certified carpenter, from writing the requisition to a badged start. The screening steps are where time is actually lost.
New York does not publish a separate statewide carpenter median for each construction sector, so the verified statewide median of $34.77 per hour is used across these sectors.
Residential carpenters may handle framing, remodeling, trim, doors, windows, flooring, and other home construction work.
Commercial carpentry often involves larger structures, detailed drawings, coordinated schedules, and multiple crews working simultaneously.
Finish carpenters focus on detailed installation where fitting, alignment, measurements, and visible workmanship are closely evaluated.
Framing work emphasizes layout, structural assembly, material handling, and maintaining production across active construction sites.
Carpenters on covered public projects may work under prevailing wage requirements that establish specific wage and benefit rates.
Post a role and reach OSHA-certified candidates in your area.