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CareerOneStop reports Illinois 2025 carpenter wages for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031, at these low, median, and high hourly levels.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Pick a trade and state to see real hourly rates.
CareerOneStop reports Illinois 2025 carpenter wages for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031, at these low, median, and high hourly levels.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Salary Guides / Illinois
This guide covers carpenter pay in Illinois, wage levels, credentials, higher-paying industries, and key career considerations.
Carpenters in Illinois construct, install, repair, and finish building frameworks, fixtures, concrete forms, stairways, flooring, and other structures. Latest BLS wage data places Illinois carpenter pay at 19.18–56.57 per hour, or approximately 39,890–117,660 annually. The statewide median is $37.98 per hour, equivalent to $79,000 per year. The 25th percentile is $27.00 per hour, while the 75th percentile is $51.42. Pay varies by location, experience, specialty, employer, and project type. For example, the median is $38.68 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area, $41.93 in Decatur, and $34.99 in Rockford.
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
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$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Higher-paying carpenter work can involve larger construction projects and specialized skills.
Commercial and institutional construction can give carpenters experience with larger structures, complex framing, and demanding project schedules.
Infrastructure work can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, bridges, highways, and other major engineering projects.
Finish contractors provide opportunities for carpenters with strong installation, trim, and detail-oriented construction skills.
Residential construction includes new homes, additions, remodeling, framing, and other building projects.
Specialty contractors provide focused opportunities across construction, remodeling, installation, repair, and related trade work.
Manufacturing can suit carpenters who prefer controlled shop environments and detailed wood-product production.
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCCER Carpentry Level 2 | +$1 | $2,080 | $190 | 5 weeks |
| Scaffold User/Competent Person (OSHA-aligned) | +$1 | $2,080 | $210 | 5 weeks |
| NCCER Carpentry Level 1 | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $190 | 6 weeks |
| Fall Protection Competent Person (OSHA-aligned) | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $165 | 6 weeks |
| First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned) | +$0.25 | $520 | $70 | 7 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.25 | $520 | $85 | 9 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$0.50 | $1,040 | $170 | 9 weeks |
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $37.98/hr.
Verified positions matching this trade and location.