Pick a trade and state to see real hourly rates.
Salary Guides / New Jersey
Carpenter Salary in New Jersey
This guide covers New Jersey carpenter wages, experience-based pay levels, licensing requirements, higher-paying industries, and career considerations.
What Carpenters Earn in New Jersey
Carpenters build, install, and repair structural and finish components in residential and commercial projects. In New Jersey, carpenters typically earn about $21.00 to $58.41 per hour, which corresponds to approximately $43,680 to $121,490 annually.
Hourly rates by level in New Jersey
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Where do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other carpenters in New Jersey.
What are you making?
Type your hourly rate. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere — it stays in your browser.
Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.
You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in New Jersey
Higher-paying carpenter work can involve commercial construction, finishing, or infrastructure projects.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Commercial projects involve larger structures, complex framing, and demanding schedules.
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
Infrastructure projects can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, bridges, highways, and major public works.
Building Finishing Contractors
Finish work suits carpenters with detailed installation, trim, cabinetry, and interior construction skills.
Which states pay carpenters the most
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.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Aid/CPR | +$0.25 | $520 | $70 | 4 weeks |
| Forklift Operator | +$0.50 | $1,040 | $100 | 5 weeks |
| NCCER Carpentry Level 2 | +$1 | $2,080 | $190 | 5 weeks |
| Scaffold Training | +$1 | $2,080 | $210 | 5 weeks |
| NCCER Carpentry Level 1 | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $190 | 6 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.25 | $520 | $85 | 9 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$0.50 | $1,040 | $170 | 9 weeks |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $30.77/hr.
Questions workers ask
Does New Jersey require a state carpenter license?▾
Do New Jersey home improvement contractors need registration?▾
Can New Jersey carpenters specialize through certifications?▾
See Open Carpenter Jobs in New Jersey
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
CareerOneStop reports these statewide figures for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031.
Last updated October 22, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.