Carpenter Salary - Midwest
Industrial stronghold with Chicago driving significant wage premiums
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 state median. Non-union residential work typically falls below it. State figures are averages -- wages vary significantly between metro and rural markets within the same state. City-level data coming soon.
The Midwest is a strong performing region for carpenters with Illinois leading at $79,000 median driven by Chicago's dominant UBC market. Hawaii-adjacent Minnesota at $64,930 and Indiana at $62,870 round out the top performers. The region's industrial base creates consistent demand for millwright work that pays significantly above general carpenter scale. Washington leads the overall national ranking but the Midwest offers the best combination of wages and cost of living.
UBC regional councils have strong presence across the Midwest's major markets. Chicago's UBC locals are among the highest-paying in the country for carpenters and millwrights. Minneapolis, Detroit, and Indianapolis all have active UBC programs. The industrial sector is a major differentiator -- manufacturing facilities, power plants, and industrial operations across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan employ significant numbers of UBC millwrights at premium rates. Outside the major metros union density drops.
The Midwest offers excellent purchasing power for carpenters. Illinois at 95.1 COL with $79,000 median is outstanding value. Minnesota at 93.4 and Indiana at 88.3 offer solid wages at well below-average cost of living. Iowa at 88.6 and Kansas at 87.6 are among the most affordable states. The industrial Midwest provides the best combination of millwright wages and affordable living anywhere in the country.
- →Industrial millwright work across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan's manufacturing corridor
- →Commercial office and mixed-use construction in the Chicago metro
- →EV battery and advanced manufacturing facility construction requiring precision millwright installation
- →Healthcare and institutional construction across the region
- →Residential construction boom in suburban markets around major Midwest metros
Chicago is a top destination for traveling carpenters and millwrights. UBC local scale rates are among the highest in the country and commercial construction runs consistently on major projects. Millwright travelers are in high demand across the industrial corridor in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Chicago and Midwest industrial openings.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living -- what your paycheck actually buys relative to the national average.
| State | Median Annual | COL Index | Effective Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $79,000 +$18,420 vs. national | 95.1 | $83,070 +$22,490 vs. national |
| Minnesota | $64,930 +$4,350 vs. national | 93.4 | $69,518 +$8,938 vs. national |
| Indiana | $62,870 +$2,290 vs. national | 88.3 | $71,200 +$10,620 vs. national |
| Michigan | $61,680 +$1,100 vs. national | 93.9 | $65,687 +$5,107 vs. national |
| Wisconsin | $61,660 +$1,080 vs. national | 97.4 | $63,306 +$2,726 vs. national |
| Missouri | $60,840 +$260 vs. national | 88.6 | $68,668 +$8,088 vs. national |
| Ohio | $60,810 +$230 vs. national | 93.7 | $64,899 +$4,319 vs. national |
| North Dakota | $57,890 $-2,690 vs. national | 90.7 | $63,826 +$3,246 vs. national |
| Iowa | $57,710 $-2,870 vs. national | 88.6 | $65,135 +$4,555 vs. national |
| Kansas | $56,960 $-3,620 vs. national | 87.6 | $65,023 +$4,443 vs. national |
| Nebraska | $50,320 $-10,260 vs. national | 91.3 | $55,115 $-5,465 vs. national |
| South Dakota | $48,140 $-12,440 vs. national | 94.1 | $51,158 $-9,422 vs. national |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - 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.