Pick a trade and state to see real hourly rates.
Salary Guides / Alabama
Carpenter Salary in Alabama
See Alabama carpenter pay by experience level, relevant credentials, higher-paying industries, and factors that can affect earning potential.
What Alabama Carpenters Earn
Carpenters in Alabama construct, repair, and install building frameworks, structures, fixtures, and other components made from wood and related materials. Alabama carpenters typically earn $16.55–$30.36 per hour, with a median of $23.18 per hour. That equals approximately $34,430–$63,140 annually, with a median annual wage of $48,220. Pay varies by experience, location, employer, specialty, and project type. For comparison, median carpenter pay was higher in several Alabama metros, including Birmingham at $24.23/hr, Decatur at $24.50/hr, and Florence-Muscle Shoals at $24.87/hr. The figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest wage data.
Hourly rates by level in Alabama
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 Alabama.
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.
Build your rate
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 Alabama
Commercial, infrastructure, and specialized work can offer stronger wage benchmarks. Alabama does not publish a current occupation-by-industry carpenter wage table for these categories. The figures below are 2025 national BLS industry medians and are therefore benchmarks, not Alabama-specific rates.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Carpenters on commercial and institutional projects may handle structural framing, interior construction, and specialized installations.
Heavy & Civil Engineering Construction
Carpenters may work on infrastructure projects involving bridges, highways, concrete forms, and other specialized construction.
Building Finishing Contractors
Finish carpenters handle detailed installations such as trim, doors, fixtures, and other final construction components.
Residential Building Construction
Residential carpenters work on new homes and housing projects across framing, installation, repairs, and related construction stages.
Foundation, Structure & Building Exterior Contractors
This sector includes structural framing and exterior construction that forms the main framework and envelope of buildings.
Furniture & Related Product Manufacturing
Carpenters in furniture manufacturing work with wood products, cabinetry, fixtures, and detailed fabrication processes.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCCER Carpentry Level 2 | +$1 | $2,080 | $190 | 5 weeks |
| Scaffold User/Competent Person (OSHA-aligned) | +$1 | $2,080 | $210 | 5 weeks |
| NCCER Carpentry Level 1 | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $190 | 6 weeks |
| Fall Protection Competent Person (OSHA-aligned) | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $165 | 6 weeks |
| First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned) | +$0.25 | $520 | $70 | 7 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 $23.18/hr.
Questions workers ask
How much do carpenters make in Alabama?▾
Which Alabama cities have higher carpenter wages?▾
Does an Alabama carpenter need a state trade license?▾
Does Alabama require lead renovation certification?▾
Is OSHA 30 a carpenter certification?▾
See Open Carpenter Jobs in Alabama
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
These are guide ranges mapped from Alabama's published wage distribution: 10th–25th percentile for Apprentice, 25th–75th percentile for Journeyman, and 75th–90th percentile for Master. The 2025 median was $23.18/hr. The 2024 median was $23.02/hr, producing a +0.70% year-over-year change.
Last updated October 1, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.