Carpenter.
Birmingham.
$49,000
median salary, 17% below the national average
$40,000 to $63,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Birmingham is 16% cheaper than the national average. For Carpenters, that shakes out to a median of $49,000, with the full range spanning $40,000 to $63,000. Finish carpenters specializing in custom cabinetry, trim, and millwork earn 15 to 25% more than rough framing carpenters. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Carpenter in Birmingham, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $50,400 for Carpenters (SOC 47-2031) in the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, based on 1,660 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$37,480
25th percentile
$45,760
Median
$50,400
75th percentile
$60,210
90th percentile
$63,380
Workers surveyed
1,660
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Carpenters (SOC 47-2031) rather than Carpenter specifically. The Birminghamrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 47-2031Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $44,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$32,000
to $39,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$42,000
to $51,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$54,000
to $64,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$61,000
to $76,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $14,000 to the total package.
Base
$49,000
Equity
$8,000
Bonus
$5,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $63,000
How Birmingham compares.
Birmingham, AL
$49,000
Cost of living: 16% below average
National Average
$59,000
Birmingham is $10,000 below
Carpenter salary by city.
Salary by role in Birmingham.
What you should know.
Here is what the Carpenter market actually looks like in Birmingham. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. The extremely low cost of living makes Birmingham a strong value for professionals in healthcare and finance. Finish carpenters specializing in custom cabinetry, trim, and millwork earn 15 to 25% more than rough framing carpenters. Union membership in metropolitan areas provides the strongest hourly rate floors. Carpenters with concrete formwork expertise for commercial high-rise projects command premium rates due to the physical demands and precision required.
Carpenter apprentices start at $30,000 to $36,000 during their three to four year training period. Journeyman carpenters earn $42,000 to $58,000, while foremen and lead carpenters reach $60,000 to $78,000. General contractors with carpentry backgrounds often earn $85,000 to $130,000 running their own operations. In Birmingham, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 16% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Union carpenters receive benefits packages worth $12,000 to $20,000 annually including health insurance, pension, and training funds. Overtime on commercial projects adds $5,000 to $12,000 per year, with prevailing wage jobs offering the best hourly rates. And on the tax side: alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $49,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UAB and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries even in this low cost market. The range for Carpenters in Birmingham runs from $40,000 to $63,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Real Estate Agent in Birmingham earns $48,000 (2% less)
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Common questions.
Carpenter salary in other cities.
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