Framing Cost Calculator for Massachusetts - Free 2026 Cost Estimates

Get accurate framing cost estimates using Massachusetts regional pricing data. Our free calculator adjusts for local labor rates and material costs specific to MA.

Massachusetts Framing Labor Costs — Verified from BLS OEWS (2025)

$38.31/hrCarpenters — mean hourly wageBLS OEWS 2025
$79,680Carpenters — mean annual wageBLS OEWS 2025
21%above national meanderived from two cited BLS figures

Every figure on this page is a published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics value. Last verified 2026-06-20.

In Massachusetts, carpenters — the core trade for framing work — earn a mean wage of $38.31/hr ($79,680 per year) in the 2025 BLS OEWS release. That is 21% above the national average (national mean $65,630 per year). Massachusetts employs about 18,540 carpenters statewide. Related trades that price into a typical framing job include construction laborers ($70,830/yr), first-line supervisors of construction trades ($100,030/yr). Because labor is the largest variable cost on most framing projects, these published state wage levels are the biggest single reason framing costs differ between Massachusetts and other states. Every figure here is a mean value published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is refreshed automatically when BLS releases new OEWS data.

Across the trades that touch a typical framing job in Massachusetts, BLS reports mean wages of carpenters at $79,680 per year ($38.31/hr); construction laborers at $70,830 per year ($34.05/hr); first-line supervisors of construction trades at $100,030 per year ($48.09/hr). The spread between first-line supervisors of construction trades ($100,030) and construction laborers ($70,830) reflects differences in skill, certification, and supervisory responsibility on Massachusetts job sites, and it is why a detailed, line-item estimate beats a single blended rate when you are budgeting framing work.

Half of Massachusetts carpenters earn less than the median of $75,200 per year — below the $79,680 mean, which a smaller number of higher earners pulls upward. For budgeting, the median is often the more realistic figure for routine framing crews. BLS counts roughly 18,540 carpenters, 16,210 construction laborers, 18,330 first-line supervisors of construction trades employed across Massachusetts, a measure of how deep the local framing-trade labor pool is and how much competition for crews you can expect when scheduling work.

When you budget a framing job in Massachusetts, treat these BLS wage levels as the labor-rate floor: a crew's billed rate adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin on top of the $38.31/hr mean wage shown above. Because Massachusetts's carpenters wages sit 21% above the national average, a framing quote that comes in far below these published rates is worth a second look — labor that cheap usually signals a different scope, materials, or crew experience. Use the calculator on this page to combine these Massachusetts labor rates with your project's material quantities for a complete estimate.

Massachusetts construction wages by occupation — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
Occupation (SOC)Mean hourlyMean annualMedian annualEmployed in MA
Carpenters 47-2031$38.31/hr$79,680$75,20018,540
Construction Laborers 47-2061$34.05/hr$70,830$63,39016,210
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades 47-1011$48.09/hr$100,030$97,85018,330

Wages are statewide means published by BLS and reflect labor cost only — not the total installed cost of a project. Use the calculator below for a full materials-and-labor estimate, and always obtain written bids from licensed Massachusetts contractors.

Calculate Your Framing Costs in Massachusetts

Our free framing calculator provides detailed estimates tailored to Massachusetts pricing. Enter your project dimensions and specifications to get an instant breakdown of materials, labor, and total costs.

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Sources & Methodology

These figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — the official federal wage survey — for the 2025 reference release, the latest available. Wages shown are statewide mean values for Massachusetts; actual pay varies by metro area, employer, union status, and experience. CostFlowAI re-checks the BLS public API on a quarterly recheck cadence and stamps each figure with the date it was last verified (2026-06-20). We publish the exact BLS series ID behind every number so any figure on this page can be independently confirmed at the source.

BLS series IDs behind every figure on this page12

Each ID resolves to the live U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics public-API record for that exact figure.

Frequently Asked Questions: Framing in Massachusetts

What do framing crews cost in Massachusetts in 2026?

Carpenters — the core framing trade — earn a mean wage of $38.31/hr ($79,680 per year) in Massachusetts, per 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, 21% above the national average. Labor is the largest variable cost on most framing jobs, so this is the single biggest driver of how Massachusetts framing pricing compares with other states. Use the free framing calculator on this page for a full materials-and-labor estimate for your specific project.

Do I need a permit for framing work in Massachusetts?

Permit requirements for framing work in Massachusetts vary by municipality and project scope. Most cities and counties in Massachusetts require building permits for structural work and projects exceeding certain cost thresholds. Contact your local Massachusetts building department for specific requirements — always verify before starting work.

What factors affect framing costs in Massachusetts?

Key factors include local labor rates (carpenters average $38.31/hr in Massachusetts per BLS OEWS), material availability and regional pricing, permit and inspection fees, site conditions specific to Massachusetts, and project complexity. Wages are the largest variable cost on most framing jobs, which is why Massachusetts pricing tracks its published trade-wage levels. Getting multiple written quotes from licensed Massachusetts contractors is recommended for the most accurate pricing.

What This Estimate Includes

  • Materials: lumber, studs, plates, headers, fasteners at regional pricing
  • Labor: Carpenters in Massachusetts earn a mean wage of $38.31/hr (BLS OEWS 2025)
  • Waste factor: 10% standard waste allowance included

Not included: permits, demolition, site preparation beyond standard grading, inspections, or unforeseen site conditions.

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