Carpenter.
San Francisco.
$80,000
median salary, 36% above the national average
$65,000 to $104,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Carpenter offer in San Francisco, CA, here is the reality: $65,000 to $104,000, with $80,000 as the midpoint. 36% above the national average. Finish carpenters specializing in custom cabinetry, trim, and millwork earn 15 to 25% more than rough framing carpenters. Do not accept the first number. 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 San Francisco, 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 $89,200 for Carpenters (SOC 47-2031) in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, based on 14,010 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$59,020
25th percentile
$63,340
Median
$89,200
75th percentile
$100,380
90th percentile
$132,760
Workers surveyed
14,010
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 San Franciscorange 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 $72,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$52,000
to $64,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$68,000
to $84,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$88,000
to $104,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$100,000
to $124,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $23,000 to the total package.
Base
$80,000
Equity
$13,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $103,000
How San Francisco compares.
San Francisco, CA
$80,000
Cost of living: 35% above average
National Average
$59,000
San Francisco is $21,000 above
Carpenter salary by city.
Salary by role in San Francisco.
What you should know.
Here is what the Carpenter market actually looks like in San Francisco. San Francisco is the epicenter of venture capital and startup innovation, consistently producing the highest tech salaries in the nation. The city's concentration of AI labs, SaaS companies, and fintech firms creates intense competition for talent. Despite remote work trends, SF still commands the steepest salary premiums for engineering and product roles. 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 San Francisco, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 35% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
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: california's top marginal state income tax rate is 13.3%, the highest in the U.S. San Francisco has no additional city income tax, but overall tax burden remains steep. When someone quotes you $80,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage competing offers aggressively. SF employers expect candidates to shop around, and matching or beating a rival offer is standard practice here. The range for Carpenters in San Francisco runs from $65,000 to $104,000. 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?
- An Insurance Agent in San Francisco earns $79,000 (1% less)
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Common questions.
Carpenter salary in other cities.
Other salaries in San Francisco.
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