Carpenter Salary in Chicago
Metro area wage data for carpenters from the BLS OEWS program, May 2025.
Wage figures reflect all carpenters across all employment types, union and non-union, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. Union journeymen typically earn above the area median. Non-union residential work typically falls below it.
Mid-America Carpenters and Illinois prevailing wage anchor one of the Midwest's strongest union carpenter markets.
The Chicago metro's carpenter market is covered by the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, representing over 58,000 members across Illinois, Missouri, and surrounding states. Illinois prevailing wage law applies to public construction, and the metro's density of commercial, healthcare, and infrastructure work sustains above-average demand. The Elk Grove Village training center is the primary entry point for the Chicago market.
- →Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council — 58,000+ members across five states
- →Illinois Prevailing Wage Act covers public construction
- →Healthcare, commercial, and infrastructure construction sustaining demand
UBC Local 10 journeyman carpenter Journey-Level Rate
Union scale reflects the UBC Local 10 journeyman carpenter journey-level rate under the current collective bargaining agreement. The BLS area median reflects all carpenters across all employment types and experience levels.
| Training Center | Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Training Center — Elk Grove Village |
| Address | 1256 Estes Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 |
| Phone | (847) 640-7373 |
| Minimum Score | No minimum |
Applying to UBC Local 10?
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What to expect →All carpenters — union and non-union, all experience levels
All carpenters — union and non-union, all experience levels. Wage figures only, employer-paid benefits, pension contributions, and health and welfare are not included.
| Annual Median Wage | $80,440 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $83,110 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $38.68 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $39.96 |
| Total Employed | 14,220 |
| Area Type | Metropolitan Area |
Journey-level rates sourced directly from local collective bargaining agreements across the country's major construction markets. Union density and market conditions vary significantly by region.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - SOC 47-2031 (Carpenters) - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.