Northern California Carpenter Union Wages (2025)
Journeyman and apprentice pay under the Northern California Carpenters Agreement, covering 46 counties across four wage areas. Base wage rates effective July 1, 2025.
Journeyman wage rates by area (effective 7/1/2025)
| Classification | Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $67.16 | $61.13 | $61.13 | $59.78 |
| Bridge Builder / Highway Carpenter | $67.01 | $67.01 | $67.01 | $67.01 |
| Hardwood Floorlayer | $67.16 | $61.28 | $61.28 | $59.93 |
| Shingler | $67.16 | $61.28 | $61.28 | $59.93 |
| Power Saw Operator | $67.16 | $61.28 | $61.28 | $59.93 |
| Steel Scaffold & Shoring Erector | $67.16 | $61.28 | $61.28 | $59.93 |
Foreman rate: 10% above the applicable journeyman rate. General Foreman: 20% above the foreman rate.
Area 1: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma.
Area 2: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz.
Area 3: Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, western Placer, western El Dorado.
Area 4: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, eastern El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Nevada, eastern Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yuba.
Fringe benefits (Area 1, effective 7/1/2025)
| Benefit | Per hour |
|---|---|
| Health & Welfare (H&W) | $14.37 |
| Pension (PEN) | $11.55 |
| Annuity (ANN) | $3.33 |
| Vacation (VAC) | $3.43 |
| Work Fee (WF) | $2.65 |
| Apprenticeship Training (TR) | $1.31 |
| Vacation/Holiday/Sick Leave Admin | $0.10 |
| Industry Promotion (IP) | $0.07 |
| Carpenters International Training Fund | $0.15 |
| Contract Work Preservation (CWP) | $0.07 |
| Contract Administration | $0.07 |
| Total fringe | $37.10 |
Total compensation package (Area 1 journeyman): $67.16 base + $37.10 fringe = $104.26/hr.
Apprentice wage rates (Area 1, % of journeyman)
Apprentices earn a rising percentage of the journeyman rate each period, plus fringe benefits per the schedule. Area 1 dollar figures shown (journeyman $67.16).
| Period | % of journeyman | Area 1 hourly | Annual (40hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (0-6 mos) | 60% | $40.30 | $83,824 |
| 2nd (7-12 mos) | 65% | $43.65 | $90,792 |
| 3rd (13-18 mos) | 70% | $47.01 | $97,781 |
| 4th (19-24 mos) | 75% | $50.37 | $104,770 |
| 5th (25-30 mos) | 80% | $53.73 | $111,758 |
| 6th (31-36 mos) | 85% | $57.09 | $118,747 |
| 7th (37-42 mos) | 90% | $60.44 | $125,715 |
| 8th (43-48 mos) | 95% | $63.80 | $132,704 |
Apprentice percentages and fringe allocations follow the contract's schedule; exact rates by area may vary slightly.
Take-home pay estimate (journeyman, Area 1)
What an Area 1 journeyman carpenter keeps after taxes on the base wage (single filer, California, 40 hrs/week). Fringe benefits are paid separately into benefit funds.
Net estimate includes federal income tax, CA state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and SDI on the base wage. Health and pension are funded through the fringe package, so a carpenter's out-of-pocket for those is typically lower than in non-union roles.
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