Carpenter Prevailing Wage Rates in California (2026)

Carpenters on prevailing wage projects in California are paid $25.04 to $141.82 per hour, with a median total of $65.67 across the 100 determination records listed below. That total is base rate plus fringe benefits; the median base rate is $45.37, and among the 76 records listing a fringe separately the median fringe is $29.08. Rates differ by county, construction type and funding source, so use the row that matches your project.

Lowest listed$25.04per hour, total

Median listed$65.67 median base $45.37 · median fringe $29.08

Highest listed$141.82per hour, total

Records shown100 across 23 counties

Figures above are computed over the 100 hourly records in the table below, which is the first page of a larger set. They are not a statewide average of all carpenters in California. Most recent determination in this set: May 20, 2026.

How much do carpenters earn on prevailing wage jobs in California?

Every row below is one wage determination line: a carpenter classification, in one county, for one construction type, under one funding source. The rate that applies to your project is the row whose county, construction type and funding source all match it — a Highway rate does not apply to a Building project in the same county, and a state determination does not substitute for a federal one.

Classification	County	Construction type	Funding	Base	Fringe	Total
Carpenter	Del-Norte	Building	#federal	$19.08	$6.92	$26.00
Carpenters: (Hardwood Floor Layer; Power Saw Operator; Saw Filer; Shingler; Steel Scaffold Erector; Steel Shoring)	Del-Norte	Building	#federal	$19.23	$6.96	$26.19
Carpenters: Millwright	Del-Norte	Building	#federal	$19.73	$8.20	$27.93
Carpenters: Piledriverman	Del-Norte	Building	#federal	$19.38	$9.88	$29.26
Carpenters: Piledriverman - Bridge Building	Del-Norte	Building	#federal	$21.21	$6.92	$28.13
Carpenter	Humboldt	Building	#federal	$19.08	$6.92	$26.00
Carpenters: (Hardwood Floor Layer; Power Saw Operator; Saw Filer; Shingler; Steel Scaffold Erector; Steel Shoring)	Humboldt	Building	#federal	$19.23	$6.96	$26.19
Carpenters: Millwright	Humboldt	Building	#federal	$19.73	$8.20	$27.93
Carpenters: Piledriverman	Humboldt	Building	#federal	$19.38	$9.88	$29.26
Carpenters: Piledriverman - Bridge Building	Humboldt	Building	#federal	$21.21	$6.92	$28.13
Carpenter	Lake	Building	#federal	$19.08	$6.92	$26.00
Carpenters: (Hardwood Floor Layer; Power Saw Operator; Saw Filer; Shingler; Steel Scaffold Erector; Steel Shoring)	Lake	Building	#federal	$19.23	$6.96	$26.19
Carpenters: Millwright	Lake	Building	#federal	$19.73	$8.20	$27.93
Carpenters: Piledriverman	Lake	Building	#federal	$19.38	$9.88	$29.26
Carpenters: Piledriverman - Bridge Building	Lake	Building	#federal	$21.21	$6.92	$28.13
Carpenter	Mendocino	Building	#federal	$19.08	$6.92	$26.00
Carpenters: (Hardwood Floor Layer; Power Saw Operator; Saw Filer; Shingler; Steel Scaffold Erector; Steel Shoring)	Mendocino	Building	#federal	$19.23	$6.96	$26.19
Carpenters: Millwright	Mendocino	Building	#federal	$19.73	$8.20	$27.93
Carpenters: Piledriverman	Mendocino	Building	#federal	$19.38	$9.88	$29.26
Carpenters: Piledriverman - Bridge Building	Mendocino	Building	#federal	$21.21	$6.92	$28.13
Carpenter	Del-Norte	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Lake	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Mendocino	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Colusa	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Glenn	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Lassen	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Modoc	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Nevada	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Plumas	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Sierra	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Siskiyou	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Tehama	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Trinity	Residential	#federal	$26.60	—	$26.60
Carpenter	Alpine	Residential	#federal	$29.28	—	$29.28
Carpenter	Amador	Residential	#federal	$29.28	—	$29.28
Carpenter	Calaveras	Residential	#federal	$29.28	—	$29.28
Carpenter	Inyo	Residential	#federal	$29.28	—	$29.28
Carpenter	Mariposa	Residential	#federal	$29.28	—	$29.28
Carpenter	Mono	Residential	#federal	$29.28	—	$29.28
Carpenter	Tuolumne	Residential	#federal	$29.28	—	$29.28
Carpenter	Humboldt	Residential	#federal	$22.59	$6.91	$29.50
Carpenter	Amador	Building	#federal	$18.58	$6.46	$25.04
Carpenters: Hardwood Floorlayer; Power Saw Operator; Saw Filer; Shingler; Steel Scaffold Erector and Steel Shoring	Amador	Building	#federal	$18.73	$6.46	$25.19
Carpenters: Millwright	Amador	Building	#federal	$20.48	$7.86	$28.34
Carpenters: Piledriver, Bridge, Wharf and Dock Builder	Amador	Building	#federal	$19.38	$9.71	$29.09
Carpenters: Bridge Builder/Highway Carpenter	Tulare	Heavy	#federal	$52.65	$30.82	$83.47
Carpenters: Bridge Builder/Highway Carpenter	Tulare	Highway	#federal	$52.65	$30.82	$83.47
Carpenters (Hardwood Floorlayer, Shingler, Power Saw Operator, Steel Scaffold & Steel Shoring Erector, Saw Filer)	Tulare	Heavy	#federal	$45.57	$30.82	$76.39
Carpenters (Hardwood Floorlayer, Shingler, Power Saw Operator, Steel Scaffold & Steel Shoring Erector, Saw Filer)	Tulare	Highway	#federal	$45.57	$30.82	$76.39
Carpenters: Journeyman Carpenter	Tulare	Heavy	#federal	$45.42	$30.82	$76.24
Carpenter and Related Trades - Carpenter E F , Cabinet Installer, Insulation Installer, Hardwood Floor Worker, Acoustical Installer	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.24	$29.08	$81.32
Carpenter and Related Trades - Carpenter E F , Cabinet Installer, Insulation Installer, Hardwood Floor Worker, Acoustical Installer	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.24	$29.08	$81.32
Carpenter and Related Trades - Carpenter E F , Cabinet Installer, Insulation Installer, Hardwood Floor Worker, Acoustical Installer	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.24	$29.08	$81.32
Carpenter and Related Trades - Carpenter E F , Cabinet Installer, Insulation Installer, Hardwood Floor Worker, Acoustical Installer	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.24	$29.08	$81.32
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, (Stand-by)H I	Alameda	Building	#state	$56.37	$29.08	$85.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, (Stand-by)H I	Alameda	Highway	#state	$56.37	$29.08	$85.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, (Stand-by)H I	Alameda	Marine	#state	$56.37	$29.08	$85.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, (Stand-by)H I	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$56.37	$29.08	$85.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver’s Tender H	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$55.37	$29.08	$84.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver’s Tender H	Alameda	Marine	#state	$55.37	$29.08	$84.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver’s Tender H	Alameda	Highway	#state	$55.37	$29.08	$84.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver’s Tender H	Alameda	Building	#state	$55.37	$29.08	$84.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, Wet (Up to 50 Ft. Depth)H I	Alameda	Marine	#state	$112.74	$29.08	$141.82
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, Wet (Up to 50 Ft. Depth)H I	Alameda	Building	#state	$112.74	$29.08	$141.82
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, Wet (Up to 50 Ft. Depth)H I	Alameda	Highway	#state	$112.74	$29.08	$141.82
Carpenter and Related Trades - Diver, Wet (Up to 50 Ft. Depth)H I	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$112.74	$29.08	$141.82
Carpenter and Related Trades - H	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.37	—	$52.37
Carpenter and Related Trades - H	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.37	—	$52.37
Carpenter and Related Trades - H	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.37	—	$52.37
Carpenter and Related Trades - H	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.37	—	$52.37
Carpenter and Related Trades - Head Rockslinger	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.47	$29.08	$81.55
Carpenter and Related Trades - Head Rockslinger	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.47	$29.08	$81.55
Carpenter and Related Trades - Head Rockslinger	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.47	$29.08	$81.55
Carpenter and Related Trades - Head Rockslinger	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.47	$29.08	$81.55
Carpenter and Related Trades - Millwright E	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.24	$29.78	$82.02
Carpenter and Related Trades - Millwright E	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.24	$29.78	$82.02
Carpenter and Related Trades - Millwright E	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.24	$29.78	$82.02
Carpenter and Related Trades - Millwright E	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.24	$29.78	$82.02
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pile Driverman G, Derrick Bargeman, Rockslinger, Bridge or Dock Carpenter, Cable Splicer Bridge Carpenter E E	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pile Driverman G, Derrick Bargeman, Rockslinger, Bridge or Dock Carpenter, Cable Splicer Bridge Carpenter E E	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pile Driverman G, Derrick Bargeman, Rockslinger, Bridge or Dock Carpenter, Cable Splicer Bridge Carpenter E E	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pile Driverman G, Derrick Bargeman, Rockslinger, Bridge or Dock Carpenter, Cable Splicer Bridge Carpenter E E	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pneumatic Nailer or Power Stapler	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pneumatic Nailer or Power Stapler	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pneumatic Nailer or Power Stapler	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Pneumatic Nailer or Power Stapler	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.37	$29.08	$81.45
Carpenter and Related Trades - Rock Bargeman or Scowman	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.27	$29.08	$81.35
Carpenter and Related Trades - Rock Bargeman or Scowman	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.27	$29.08	$81.35
Carpenter and Related Trades - Rock Bargeman or Scowman	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.27	$29.08	$81.35
Carpenter and Related Trades - Rock Bargeman or Scowman	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.27	$29.08	$81.35
Carpenter and Related Trades - Roof Loader of Shingles	Alameda	Marine	#state	$36.67	$29.00	$65.67
Carpenter and Related Trades - Roof Loader of Shingles	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$36.67	$29.00	$65.67
Carpenter and Related Trades - Roof Loader of Shingles	Alameda	Highway	#state	$36.67	$29.00	$65.67
Carpenter and Related Trades - Roof Loader of Shingles	Alameda	Building	#state	$36.67	$29.00	$65.67
Carpenter and Related Trades - Saw Filer	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.34	$29.08	$81.42
Carpenter and Related Trades - Saw Filer	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.34	$29.08	$81.42
Carpenter and Related Trades - Saw Filer	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.34	$29.08	$81.42
Carpenter and Related Trades - Saw Filer	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.34	$29.08	$81.42
Carpenter and Related Trades - Scaffold Builder	Alameda	Marine	#state	$45.37	$28.40	$73.77
Carpenter and Related Trades - Scaffold Builder	Alameda	Building	#state	$45.37	$28.40	$73.77

WageFinder holds more carpenter records for California than fit on this page. Open a county below, or search all California carpenters.

What does the carpenter classification cover?

Carpenters frame, form and finish. On heavy and highway determinations the carpenter classification is very often subdivided — form work, scaffold, drywall hanging and piledriving can each carry their own rate — so the plain "Carpenter" rate may not be the one that applies to the specific task.

Work typically covered

Rough framing
Concrete formwork
Scaffolding
Doors, frames and hardware
Finish carpentry and millwork

Also listed as

Carpenter (Form Work Only)
Carpenter/Drywall Hanger
Rough Carpenter

In this California result set the work appears under 23 distinct classification names.

Carpenter rates by county in California

Prevailing wage is set county by county. These are the California counties with carpenter records in the set above — open one to see every classification on that county's determination, not just this trade.

See all California counties →

Other trades in California

Carpenter prevailing wage questions

What is the prevailing wage for a carpenter in California?

Across the 100 federal and state-funded determination records WageFinder lists for carpenters in California, total prevailing wage runs from $25.04 to $141.82 per hour, median $65.67. There is no single statewide figure: each county's determination sets its own rate, and the same county can carry different rates for Building, Highway, Heavy and Residential work.

Does the carpenter rate include benefits?

The total prevailing wage shown is the base hourly rate plus the fringe benefit rate. Of the 100 California records on this page, 76 list a fringe amount separately, with a median of $29.08 per hour — roughly 44% of the median total. The rest list no separate fringe, meaning the base rate is the whole obligation. Fringe can be paid as bona fide benefit plan contributions, as cash added to the paycheck, or as a mix of both.

Which California counties have carpenter rates?

This page lists carpenter records for 23 counties in California: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, Del-Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, and others. Determinations that apply statewide appear under a statewide entry rather than a named county.

How current are these California carpenter rates?

The most recent determination in this set is dated May 20, 2026. WageFinder re-reads the official sources weekly, but the date that matters for compliance is the determination date on the document itself, which is shown on every wage detail page and links back to the government source.

Running certified payroll against these rates?

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