SOC 47-3012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Helpers--Carpenters — California
California · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Helpers--Carpenters in California is $49,890 per year, 14.0% above the national median of $43,780.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Helpers--Carpenters in California is $49,890 per year, 14.0% above the national median of $43,780. Pay ranges from under $36,690 at the tenth percentile to more than $76,080 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $43,150 to $64,810.
The area has 2,670 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 6th by median wage. Los Angeles leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,810. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 585th of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,690 | −16.2% |
| 25th | $43,150 | −1.4% |
| Median (50th) | $49,890 | +14.0% |
| 75th | $64,810 | +48.0% |
| 90th | $76,080 | +73.8% |
| Mean | $54,530 | +24.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | $64,810 | 750 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $62,370 | 340 | |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | $59,090 | 50 | |
| 4 | Stockton | $50,590 | 40 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $45,710 | 500 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $45,040 | 190 | |
| 7 | Oxnard | $44,300 | 80 | |
| 8 | Riverside | $43,150 | 250 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $49,890 buys what $45,068 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,890as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,068US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,890 a year, 14.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,690 to $76,080 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,670 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Los Angeles, at $64,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Helpers--Carpenters in California?
The median annual wage is $49,890, or $23.99 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $43,780, so pay in California is 14.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $76,080 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,690 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Los Angeles, at $64,810 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,670 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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