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CareerOneStop reports these 2025 North Carolina wage figures for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Hiring guide · North Carolina
Learn how to hire qualified carpenters, verify project requirements, and assess practical skills for North Carolina construction work.
Carpenters in North Carolina work across residential construction, commercial building, remodeling, framing, finish work, and specialty projects. Their duties may include framing walls and roofs, installing doors and windows, building stairs and decks, setting cabinets, and completing interior trim. Strong candidates should understand measurements, construction drawings, material selection, hand and power tools, and jobsite safety. Employers also need to distinguish between an individual carpenter's role and the licensing requirements that apply to general contractors operating larger projects. This guide helps North Carolina employers identify suitable experience levels, check relevant legal and insurance requirements, find trained candidates, and ask practical questions that reveal whether a carpenter can perform the work required on the job.
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.
North Carolina carpenters generally progress from supervised foundational work to independent skilled work and experienced leadership.
Build foundational carpentry skills through supervised work, safety training, tool use, measuring, and technical instruction.
Work independently on complex carpentry tasks, apply trade knowledge, and take responsibility for quality, productivity, and jobsite safety.
Lead experienced carpentry work, coordinate crews, solve complex jobsite problems, and maintain quality across assigned work.
Budget $23.61 an hour for a qualified carpenter in North Carolina, from $17.13 at entry level to $30.36 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 →North Carolina employers should verify contractor licensing, workplace safety, workers’ compensation, and project-specific requirements before assigning carpentry work.
Employers can source carpenters through registered apprenticeship networks, community-college training, and established construction workforce programs.
Use questions that reveal actual carpentry ability, construction judgment, and readiness for the type of work your company performs.
Vague project responsibilities
No measurable carpentry experience
Unverified apprenticeship claims
No blueprint experience
Limited power-tool exposure
No independent project history
No recent construction references
A realistic schedule for a certified carpenter, from writing the requisition to a badged start. The screening steps are where time is actually lost.
North Carolina's available statewide occupational wage data does not publish separate carpenter rates by construction sector, so the verified $23.61/hr statewide median is used rather than creating unsupported sector-specific figures.
Residential carpenters may handle framing, additions, decks, remodeling, doors, windows, and interior finishing.
Commercial carpentry can involve larger layouts, detailed plans, production schedules, and coordination with multiple construction trades.
Remodeling requires carpenters to measure existing conditions carefully and adapt installation methods around completed portions of a building.
Custom homes can require accurate framing, specialty installations, detailed trim, and close coordination with builders and other trades.
Schools, healthcare facilities, and other institutional projects can involve detailed specifications, controlled access, inspections, and formal scheduling.
Post a role and reach OSHA-certified candidates in your area.