Does Wisconsin require carpenters to have a state license?

Wisconsin does not have a general employee carpenter license, but specific contractor credentials apply to businesses and individuals responsible for qualifying one- and two-family dwelling construction.

Does Wisconsin require a contractor credential for residential construction?

Yes. A person obtaining a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling generally must hold a Dwelling Contractor certification or Restricted certification and meet the applicable qualifier requirement.

What lead certification can a Wisconsin carpenter obtain?

Wisconsin offers Lead-Safe Renovator, Lead Abatement Worker, and Lead Abatement Supervisor certifications for individuals performing covered lead-related work.

Does Wisconsin require lead certification for renovation work?

Yes. Wisconsin's Lead-Safe Renovation Rule applies to covered renovation, repair, and painting work in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities, with certification requirements for regulated activities.

Does carpenter pay vary across Wisconsin?

Yes. BLS data shows median carpenter wages ranging from $24.03 per hour in Wausau to $30.04 in Appleton among the listed Wisconsin labor markets.

Carpenter Salary in Wisconsin (2026)

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These are Wisconsin statewide 2025 wage figures for Carpenters, SOC 47-2031. CareerOneStop reports $45,110 as the low annual wage, $61,660 as the median, and $93,040 as the high annual wage. Pay can vary considerably by location. For example, the 2025 median was $30.52 per hour in the Madison area, $30.73 in Milwaukee-Waukesha, $30.04 in Appleton, and $40.59 in Oshkosh-Neenah.

Last updated October 5, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.

Certification	Rate bump	Extra / year	Cost	Payback
NCCER Carpentry Level 2	+$1	$2,080	$190	5 weeks
Scaffold	+$1	$2,080	$210	5 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 1	+$0.75	$1,560	$190	6 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person	+$0.75	$1,560	$165	6 weeks
First Aid/CPR/AED	+$0.25	$520	$70	7 weeks
OSHA 10 Construction	+$0.25	$520	$85	9 weeks
OSHA 30 Construction	+$0.50	$1,040	$170	9 weeks

Carpenter Salary in Wisconsin

What Carpenters Earn in Wisconsin

Hourly rates by level in Wisconsin

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Calculate pay with extra credentials

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2Certifications you hold

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Who pays the most in Wisconsin

Nonresidential Building Construction

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Building Finishing Contractors

Residential Building Construction

Specialty Trade Contractors

Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing

Which states pay carpenters the most

What each certification is worth

What overtime actually adds

Questions workers ask

See Open Carpenter Jobs in Wisconsin