Carpenters pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,780 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Memphis earn between $46,960 and $58,790.
- $40K10th
- $47K25th
- $51KMedian
- $59K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,370 | $4,448 | $25.66 |
| Median | $50,620 | $4,218 | $24.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,960 | $3,913 | $22.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,790 | $4,899 | $28.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $53,370, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $45,063 a year, or $3,755 a month and $1,733 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $45,063 | $3,755 |
| Working in MS | $43,660 | $3,638 |
| Working in AR | $43,576 | $3,631 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $53,370 buys what about $57,898 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($56,730).
- Nashville$56,730
- Knoxville$53,520
- Cleveland$53,490
- Memphis$53,370
- Chattanooga$53,340
- Morristown$52,710
- Clarksville$52,690
- Johnson City$51,320
- Jackson$51,100
- Kingsport$50,040
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Carpenters salary in Memphis: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Memphis?
$25.66 an hour on average, and $24.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Memphis?
About $45,063 a year ($3,755 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,370. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do carpenters earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($66,608).
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.