The Bureau reports a carpenter's 2010 average hourly wage at $21.10.
Restoration carpenters specialize in renovations and restorations--that is, repairing and reconditioning older homes and structures. The restoration carpenter may repair framework, install new cabinets, install new flooring and new windows, and install doors and frames. A restoration carpenter's salary depends on a variety of factors such as his location and the industry in which he works.
Salary
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies restoration carpenters as "Carpenters." As of May 2010, a carpenter's average annual salary was $43,890. Carpenters in the 10th percentile earned $24,650 per year; those in the 25th percentile earned $30,710 per year; the median annual salary was $39,530; those in the 75th percentile earned $53,880; and those in the 90th percentile earned $71,660 each year, the Bureau reports.
Salary by Location
Hawaii was the highest-paying state for this occupation, where restoration carpenters salaries averaged $66,170 per year. Alaska and Nevada were second and third on the top-paying states list, with annual salaries averaging $60,600 and $57,450, respectively. Rounding out the list were New Jersey and California, where salaries averaged close to $55,000 per year in both states. Two lesser-paying states were Texas and South Dakota, where annual salaries averaged $32,430 and $30,790, respectively. Honolulu, Hawaii and Fairbanks, Alaska were the two highest paying metropolitan areas. Salaries in both of these areas averaged close to $69,000, the Bureau reports.
Salary by Industry
Salaries vary widely across the industries in which a carpenter may work. In the contractor industries, such as foundation, structure and building exterior contractors and building finishing contractors, average annual salaries were closer to the national average at $41,280 and $45,850, respectively. In motion picture and video industries, average salaries were higher at $61,400 per year. Examples of other industries in which a restoration carpenter may work are specialty hospitals, where annual salaries averaged $57,120; and scientific research and development services, with annual salaries averaging $56,020.
Other Factors
Other factors that may impact a restoration carpenter's earnings are her skill level, her employment status and her business sense--if the carpenter is self-employed, her business knowledge will impact her earnings. A self-employed carpenter must find clients, allocate resources, hire help, charge fees and perform other business functions that a carpenter who is employed by a company may not have to worry about. Self-employed carpenters may earn more or less than their employed counterparts. This depends on the individual situation.
