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True Trade Path

Philadelphia, PA

Carpenters in Philadelphia

Framing, finish carpentry, decks, stairs and structural repair contractors. Local labor in Philadelphia runs about 11 percent above the national median, which is the adjustment to apply before you use any national price.

Metro population
1,550,542
Labor cost index
1.11×
State
Pennsylvania

Emergency and utility numbers in Pennsylvania

For gas odor, downed power lines, or flooding, call 911 or your utility emergency line first — not a contractor. After the immediate hazard is controlled, hire licensed pros for permanent repair.

  • 911 — fire, medical, immediate life safety
  • Gas odor — leave the building, do not switch lights, call your gas utility emergency number from outside
  • Power outage / lines down — utility emergency line; stay away from downed conductors

Trade owners in Philadelphia

Claiming your profile is free — correct licence, service area, and contact. No lead fees and no paid placement.

Claim your business

Carpenters listed in Philadelphia

No listings here yet

We publish a listing only where the organization asked to be listed, or where every field came from a public licence register. Neither has happened for carpenters in Philadelphia yet, so there is nothing to show — rather than a page of names scraped from somewhere and presented as vetted.

The costs, licensing and verification steps below apply regardless. If you run a business here, listing is free and always will be.

What the work costs here

National ranges adjusted by the Philadelphia labor index. Materials move far less by region than labor does, so treat these as directional — the range narrows once someone has actually seen the job.

Carpenter median pay here
$62,500
National median $56,350
Labor cost vs. national
+11%
Applied to the estimates below
Metro population
1,550,542
Pennsylvania
Typical job costs in Philadelphia, adjusted from national ranges
JobNational typicalPhiladelphia typicalRange here
Foundation Repair$9,000$10,000$2,200–$44,500
Window Replacement$900$1,000$500–$2,800
Siding Replacement$15,000$16,500$8,900–$39,000
Fence Installation$3,500$3,900$1,700–$8,900
Deck Building$12,000$13,500$5,600–$28,000
Tree Removal$750$825$225–$2,800
Kitchen Remodel$35,000$39,000$16,500–$89,000
Bathroom Remodel$15,000$16,500$6,700–$44,500
Flooring Installation$5,000$5,600$2,200–$13,500
Drywall Repair$500$550$225–$1,700
Interior Painting$3,500$3,900$1,700–$8,900
Insulation Installation$3,000$3,300$1,700–$7,800
Garage Door Replacement$1,500$1,700$900–$3,900
Pressure Washing$350$400$225–$1,300
Stucco Repair$1,400$1,600$550–$7,200
Masonry Repointing$2,200$2,400$900–$10,000
Deck Repair$1,600$1,800$550–$7,200
Deck Staining$950$1,100$450–$3,600
Fence Repair$650$725$225–$3,600
Pergola Build$5,000$5,600$2,800–$16,500
Exterior Painting$4,800$5,300$2,800–$15,500
Sod Installation$2,000$2,200$1,000–$7,200
Landscape Grading$2,800$3,100$1,300–$12,000
Tree Trimming$650$725$275–$3,600
Stump Grinding$325$350$175–$1,100
Drywall Installation$2,200$2,400$1,000–$9,400
Popcorn Ceiling Removal$1,400$1,600$775–$5,300
Trim Installation$1,600$1,800$675–$7,200
Interior Door Replacement$325$350$200–$950
Exterior Door Replacement$1,400$1,600$675–$4,700
Texture Repair$450$500$225–$1,800
Staircase Repair$2,200$2,400$1,000–$10,000
Closet Build-Out$2,800$3,100$1,300–$12,000
Cabinet Installation$5,000$5,600$2,400–$18,000
Cabinet Refacing$8,000$8,900$5,000–$21,000
Countertop Installation$3,800$4,200$2,400–$14,000
Backsplash Installation$1,700$1,900$1,000–$4,700
Appliance Installation$300$325$175–$950
Tile Floor Installation$3,800$4,200$1,800–$14,500
Hardwood Refinishing$3,200$3,600$1,800–$9,400
Carpet Installation$2,000$2,200$1,000–$7,200
LVP Installation$3,000$3,300$1,800–$10,000
Attic Insulation$2,800$3,100$1,800–$8,300
Basement Egress Window$5,500$6,100$3,900–$14,500
Mold Remediation$4,000$4,400$1,800–$18,000
Fire Damage Restoration$14,000$15,500$6,700–$57,500
Asbestos Abatement$7,000$7,800$2,800–$35,500
Lead Paint Remediation$18,000$20,000$10,000–$57,500

How these numbers are derived

National ranges are multiplied by a 1.11× labor index for Philadelphia. The index is an approximation for planning, not a wage survey, and it applies to labor rather than to materials. Use it to sanity-check a quote, not to argue one down to the dollar.

Permits and code in Philadelphia

Checked against the issuing authority on 2026-10-07. Fees and thresholds change — the link below is the authority, this page is not.

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I)

Online via Philadelphia eCLIPSE portal or in person at Municipal Services Building, 1401 JFK Blvd. Pennsylvania-licensed contractors; rowhouse and historic district work often needs zoning clearance.

Permit office website(215) 686-8686

What needs a permit here

  • Electrical panel upgrade, service replacement, or knob-and-tube remediation
  • Water heater replacement and gas piping in older rowhomes
  • HVAC boiler, furnace, or central AC changeout
  • Roof replacement when structural decking is replaced
  • Structural alterations to party walls or shared masonry
  • Lead-safe renovation requirements on pre-1978 housing when disturbing painted surfaces
Published permit fees for Philadelphia
PermitPublished feeNotes
Residential Building Permit Base$100.00+ by scopePhiladelphia L&I fee schedule; rowhouse projects often bundle multiple trade permits.
Electrical Permit$90.00 - $160.00Based on circuits and service amperage.
Plumbing Water Heater Permit$75.00 - $120.00Gas venting and relief valve inspection.
Mechanical HVAC Permit$85.00 - $140.00Equipment changeout and combustion air verification.

Local amendments worth knowing

Cities adopt the model codes then amend them. The amendments are what catch people out, because a national guide will not mention them.

  • Philadelphia Building Code (2018 IBC / IRC adoption)

    Local amendments for rowhouse construction, fire separation, and energy on major remodels.

    Read the amendment

  • Philadelphia Lead Paint Certification

    Renovation in pre-1978 housing requires EPA RRP or city lead-safe practices on permitted work.

    Read the amendment

  • Philadelphia Historic Preservation

    Historic districts require Historical Commission approval before exterior alterations.

    Read the amendment

Verify a licence

  • Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) — Electrical

    Electrical contractors and journeyman electricians

    Public licence lookup

  • Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) — Plumbing

    Plumbing contractors and journeyman plumbers

    Public licence lookup

  • Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) — HVAC

    HVAC contractors

    Public licence lookup

  • Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers

    PE for party-wall and structural repairs

    Public licence lookup

Conditions that change the job here

  • Dense rowhouse stock with shared party walls complicates structural and utility upgrades.
  • Humid summers and aging masonry drive basement moisture and HVAC sizing challenges.
  • Knob-and-tube wiring and cast-iron drains are common in pre-war neighborhoods.
  • Street parking and narrow lots increase labor cost for roofing and material staging.
  • Combined sewer system affects stormwater management on major additions.

Local context for Philadelphia, PA

Permit rules, fees, and housing-stock conditions change by city even within the same state. These facts come from the researched metro profile — not from a template with the city name swapped in.

Permit office

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) · Filing information · (215) 686-8686

Common permit triggers here

  • Electrical panel upgrade, service replacement, or knob-and-tube remediation
  • Water heater replacement and gas piping in older rowhomes
  • HVAC boiler, furnace, or central AC changeout
  • Roof replacement when structural decking is replaced
  • Structural alterations to party walls or shared masonry
  • Lead-safe renovation requirements on pre-1978 housing when disturbing painted surfaces

Local conditions that change the work

  • Dense rowhouse stock with shared party walls complicates structural and utility upgrades.
  • Humid summers and aging masonry drive basement moisture and HVAC sizing challenges.
  • Knob-and-tube wiring and cast-iron drains are common in pre-war neighborhoods.
  • Street parking and narrow lots increase labor cost for roofing and material staging.
  • Combined sewer system affects stormwater management on major additions.
Source: Metro profile research · checked 2026-10-07

Verify before you hire in Pennsylvania

  1. Check the licence with the Pennsylvania board

    Generally unlicensed as a trade. A general contractor license is required in most states to contract work directly. Search the number in the state's public lookup, confirm it is active, and confirm the classification covers your job rather than something adjacent to it.

  2. Have the insurer send the certificate

    Ask for general liability and workers' compensation to be sent to you directly by the insurance agent. A PDF forwarded by the contractor proves the document existed once, not that the policy is current.

  3. Get the scope in writing, with exclusions

    What is included matters less than what is excluded. Permits, disposal, patching, and code upgrades triggered by the work are the four line items that most often turn into change orders.

  4. Confirm who pulls the permit

    Permit thresholds are municipal in Pennsylvania. The licence holder should pull it. If you are asked to pull it as a homeowner on licensed work, you are absorbing their liability.

  5. Never pay the full amount up front

    A deposit for materials on a large job is normal. Paying in full before work begins is not, and several states cap what a contractor may take as a deposit.

Work out the problem before you call

Questions about hiring in Philadelphia

How much do carpenters charge in Philadelphia?
Local labor in Philadelphia runs about 11 percent above the national median, so a national estimate should be adjusted accordingly. Against a national median of $56,350 a year, carpenters in this metro earn closer to $62,500, and service rates track that difference.
Do I need a licensed professional in Pennsylvania?
Generally unlicensed as a trade. A general contractor license is required in most states to contract work directly. Confirm the licence number with the Pennsylvania board before work begins, and confirm the classification covers your specific job.
Is a permit required in Philadelphia?
Permit thresholds are set municipally and differ even between neighbouring cities in Pennsylvania. As a rule, anything altering electrical service, gas piping, drain-waste-vent, or structure requires one. The contractor holding the licence should pull it — if they ask you to pull it as a homeowner on work like that, treat it as a warning.
How do I verify a contractor's licence?
The Pennsylvania licensing board publishes a free public lookup. Search the licence number, confirm it is active rather than expired or suspended, and confirm the name on the licence matches the business on your quote. Then have the certificate of insurance sent to you directly by the insurer.

Other trades in Philadelphia