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These are 2025 Kentucky wage estimates for Carpenters under SOC 47-2031 from CareerOneStop, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Salary Guides / Kentucky
This guide covers carpenter pay in Kentucky, wage levels, credentials, higher-paying industries, and key career considerations.
Carpenters in Kentucky construct, install, repair, and finish building frameworks, fixtures, concrete forms, flooring, and other structures. Latest BLS wage data places Kentucky carpenter pay at 35.08 per hour, or approximately 72,960 annually. The statewide median is $25.33 per hour, equivalent to $52,680 per year. The 25th percentile is $22.09 per hour, while the 75th percentile is $29.45. Pay varies by experience, location, specialty, employer, and project type. The median wages range from $22.49 per hour in East Kentucky to $27.17 in the Louisville/Jefferson County area.
Rates typically increase with experience, skills, and responsibility.
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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.
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An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Higher-paying carpenter work can involve larger projects and specialized construction skills.
Commercial and institutional construction can give carpenters experience with larger structures and complex project schedules.
Infrastructure work can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, bridges, highways, and other major engineering projects.
Finish contractors provide opportunities for carpenters with detailed installation and interior finishing 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Protection Competent Person | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $125 | 4 weeks |
| NCCER Carpentry Level 2 | +$1 | $2,080 | $190 | 5 weeks |
| Scaffold Competent Person | +$1 | $2,080 | $210 | 5 weeks |
| NCCER Carpentry Level 1 | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $190 | 6 weeks |
| First Aid/CPR | +$0.25 | $520 | $70 | 7 weeks |
| OSHA 10 | +$0.25 | $520 | $85 | 9 weeks |
| OSHA 30 | +$0.50 | $1,040 | $170 | 9 weeks |
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $25.33/hr.
Verified positions matching this trade and location.