Running a carpentry business in Washington, DC
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area has about 13,280 carpenters. The median wage is $29.23 an hour, so half earn more and half earn less. That's in line with the District of Columbia median of $29.67. That's in line with the national median of $29.12.
Market snapshot
- Carpenters employed in the metro area
- 13,280
- Median hourly wage
- $29.23
- Middle 50% earn
- $26.62 to $35.56 an hour
- Median annual wage
- $60,800
- District of Columbia median hourly wage
- $29.67
- U.S. median hourly wage
- $29.12
- Job concentration
- 0.98× the national share
- Finish carpentry contractors in the metro area
- 516
- Washington population
- 681,294
- Median year homes were built in Washington
- 1958
Job concentration compares the share of local jobs held by carpenters with the share nationwide. Above 1 means the trade is more concentrated here than average.
Carpentry in nearby cities
| City | Workers in the metro | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 3,870 | $29.99 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 210 | $30.23 |
| Hagerstown, MD | 350 | $27.21 |
| Winchester, VA | 270 | $24.12 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 150 | $23.39 |
| York, PA | 1,190 | $29.40 |
How Tradesman helps carpentry businesses in Washington
Materials and labor on one estimate
Separate labor lines from materials, add your scope of work, and send a clean PDF the customer can approve online.
Track every hour on custom work
Clock time against each job so you know how long built-ins really take and can price the next one with confidence.
Keep an order list
Add lumber and hardware to a shared order list for the job, then mark it ordered and received.
Questions about carpentry in Washington
How much do carpenters make in Washington?
In May 2025, the median wage for carpenters in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area was $29.23 an hour. The middle half earned between $26.62 and $35.56 an hour.
How many carpenters work in Washington?
About 13,280 carpenters worked in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many finish carpentry contractors are in Washington?
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area had 516 establishments classified as finish carpentry contractors in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns.
Sources
Figures cover the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area unless they name Washington. Wages are for employees, not business owners.
Run your carpentry business in Washington from one place.
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