Carpentry · DC

Carpentry costs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only

How this market compares

Skip the generic national blog post — this page is the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Carpentry slice of OEWS May 2025. Mean hourly pay here sits about 2% above the national OEWS mean.

Mean Carpentry pay here is $32.11/hr — national rank 99 of 526 areas that publish this occupation. Hourly wages stretch from $22.67 (10th percentile) to $43.56 (90th). That $20.89 gap is why two bids on the same scope can still look honest.

Local employment for this SOC is roughly 13,280 workers (OEWS May 2025). Nationwide that occupation is about 670,090. Sample jobs: Hardwood Flooring Installation mid estimate $3,955 here vs $3,906 U.S. (1% above); Window Replacement (vinyl double-hung) mid estimate $538 here vs $533 U.S. (1% above); Entry Door Replacement mid estimate $985 here vs $976 U.S. (1% above).

Mean hourly wage
$32.11
Median hourly
$29.23
p10 – p90
$22.67 – $43.56

Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.

Sample project ranges

ProjectLowMidHigh
Hardwood Flooring Installation (default size)$1,991$3,955$8,640
Window Replacement (vinyl double-hung)$311$538$1,096
Entry Door Replacement$482$985$2,292
Wood Deck Build (default size)$2,964$6,420$14,814
Deck Board / Rail Repair$196$512$1,381
Baseboard Installation (default size)$193$447$1,072
Interior Door Installation$148$341$787

What usually moves the number

Rebates (verify; don’t trust a random Facebook ad)

Check IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE for any incentives that apply to this project. Start with IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE.

Getting quotes without the circus

  1. Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
  2. Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
  3. Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.
What this estimate can’t tell you. Roof pitch, an old house or code upgrades, tough access, permits, emergency or after-hours calls, and brand tier can push a real quote outside this range.

Check our math

BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses

Carpenter (47-2031)$32.11/hr mean

Source: official BLS OEWS data for this area · area index: oessrcma.htm.

Contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) and the regional materials factor are ours — see methodology.

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Gear people often ask about

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Thermostats

A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.

Partner options
Water heaters

Tank, tankless, heat-pump — the sticker price is only half the story.

Partner options
Warranties & financing

Read the exclusions. “Full coverage” rarely means what the brochure implies.

Partner options

Monthly wage & cost note

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