SalaryByCity

Carpenters vs Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Carpenters

$59,310

Median annual salary

697,740 employed nationally

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$64,580

Median annual salary

1,072,540 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals earn $5,270 more per year than Carpenters professionals — that's 8.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Carpenters earns $98,370 compared to $104,670 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.

Salary Range Comparison

Carpenters$38,760 – $98,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$47,330 – $104,670
$38,760$104,670

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileCarpentersSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationDifference
10th Percentile$38,760$47,330$-8,570
25th Percentile$47,550$57,800$-10,250
Median (50th)$59,310$64,580$-5,270
75th Percentile$75,620$83,010$-7,390
90th Percentile$98,370$104,670$-6,300
Mean (Average)$64,040$73,700$-9,660

Employment Numbers

Carpenters

697,740

employed nationwide

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

1,072,540

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Carpenters

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$80,950
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$78,090
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$77,100
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$76,760
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI$76,510

Best Cities for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$103,640
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$99,840
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$99,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,530

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Carpenters or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $5,270 (8.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Carpenters?
Carpenters salaries range from $38,760 (10th percentile) to $98,370 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,310.
What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries range from $47,330 (10th percentile) to $104,670 (90th percentile), with a median of $64,580.
How many Carpenters and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are there?
There are approximately 697,740 Carpenters positions and 1,072,540 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education to Carpenters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Carpenters has a median salary of $59,310 while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earns $64,580. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS