Carpenters pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $117,580 or more. The middle half of carpenters in San Diego earn between $58,570 and $95,930.
- $47K10th
- $59K25th
- $73KMedian
- $96K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,240 | $6,437 | $37.13 |
| Median | $73,200 | $6,100 | $35.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,570 | $4,881 | $28.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,930 | $7,994 | $46.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Carpenters in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($78,810) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $77,240 | $73,200 | $47,310 | $117,580 | 8,710 |
| California | $78,810 | $75,920 | $47,490 | $119,950 | 100,750 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $77,240, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $60,062 a year, or $5,005 a month and $2,310 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $77,240 buys what about $69,034 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 10th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($89,630).
- San Francisco$89,630
- San Jose$87,930
- Napa$86,890
- Santa Rosa$83,430
- Vallejo$80,420
- San Luis Obispo$80,200
- Los Angeles$78,600
- Santa Cruz$78,270
- Yuba City$77,830
- San Diego$77,240
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in San Diego: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in San Diego?
$37.14 an hour on average, and $35.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in San Diego?
About $60,062 a year ($5,005 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do carpenters earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2031; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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