Carpenter.
Jackson.
$48,000
median salary, 19% below the national average
$39,000 to $62,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Carpenter pay in Jackson at $48,000, within a range of $39,000 to $62,000. That is 19% below the national average. Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, with an economy driven by government, healthcare, and energy. 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 Jackson, 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 $49,330 for Carpenters (SOC 47-2031) in the Jackson, MS metropolitan area, based on 660 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$36,440
25th percentile
$42,550
Median
$49,330
75th percentile
$52,350
90th percentile
$60,140
Workers surveyed
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 Jacksonrange 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 $43,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$31,000
to $38,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$41,000
to $50,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$53,000
to $62,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$60,000
to $74,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $14,000 to the total package.
Base
$48,000
Equity
$8,000
Bonus
$5,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $62,000
How Jackson compares.
Jackson, MS
$48,000
Cost of living: 21% below average
National Average
$59,000
Jackson is $11,000 below
Carpenter salary by city.
Salary by role in Jackson.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Carpenter roles in Jackson, here is what you are walking into. Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, with an economy driven by government, healthcare, and energy. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is a major employer. Jackson offers some of the lowest living costs in the country, making even moderate salaries deliver substantial purchasing power. 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 Jackson, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 21% 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: mississippi's top income tax rate is 5%. Jackson has no city income tax. The very low cost of living means take home pay goes further here than almost any other metro. When someone quotes you $48,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against regional healthcare and government pay scales. Jackson employers offer competitive benefits packages to compensate for lower base salaries. The range for Carpenters in Jackson runs from $39,000 to $62,000. 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
Common questions.
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