Carpentry salary in Australia: reading a job ad and comparing offers

Carpentry salary: what a job ad really tells you

When you see a job ad for a carpenter, the advertised rate might be an hourly figure, a weekly wage, or an annual salary. To compare offers fairly, you need to know where that figure sits against the national line. The Salary Index () does exactly that: it converts any gross yearly pay into an index where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings ($108,352 as of May 2026). A carpentry salary of $91,520 (the median) gives an index of about 84. That's a useful benchmark.

Where the numbers come from

The most reliable public source for carpentry earnings is the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. For Carpenters and Joiners (ANZSCO 3312), the median full-time non-managerial weekly earnings are $1,760. That's $45 per hour for a 38-hour week, though the average full-time carpenter works 43 hours. The median across all occupations is $1,852, so carpentry sits a little below the middle.

But a job ad rarely quotes the median. It might offer an hourly rate that matches the award minimum, or it might be above. The legal floor is set by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020. From 1 July 2026, a Level 3 carpenter or joiner (the standard trade classification) must be paid at least $31.84 per hour (ordinary rate, including industry allowance). That's an index of about 56 – well below the median. Most experienced carpenters earn more.

Reading the fine print

A job ad might say "$35–$45 per hour + super". Super is 12% from 1 July 2026, so add that on top. The hourly rate itself should be compared to the award minimum and the market median. If the ad says "$40 per hour", that's $1,520 for a 38-hour week, annualised $79,040 – index 73. That's above the award but below the median. A rate of $45 per hour matches the median exactly.

State matters. The Salary Index shows that Western Australia has a state index of 106.9 (annualised $115,825), while Tasmania is 88.6 ($96,008). A carpentry job in Perth is likely to pay more than one in Hobart, even for the same employer. Check state benchmarks when comparing interstate offers.

Allowances and extras

The award provides a tool allowance of $41.22 per week for carpenters. Some employers pay this separately; others include it in the hourly rate. Also, the industry allowance of $67.15 per week is already built into the $31.84 ordinary rate. If a job ad quotes a base rate lower than that, it's probably not compliant.

Overtime and penalty rates apply under the award. For a full-time carpenter, overtime is paid at time-and-a-half for the first two hours and double time after that. Saturday work attracts time-and-a-half, Sunday double time. These can significantly boost take-home pay, but they aren't guaranteed.

Using the index to compare offers

Suppose you have two offers: one in Sydney at $90,000 per year (index 83) and one in Brisbane at $85,000 (index 78). The Sydney offer is higher in raw dollars, but the cost of living is also higher. The index doesn't adjust for living costs, but it does show how each offer relates to the national earnings line. You can also compare to the industry average: construction (broadly) has an index of around 100–110 depending on the sector, but carpentry is a specific trade within that.

For a deeper dive, see how the index works and explore pay guides for award classifications.

Tax and take-home

Gross pay is not take-home pay. For a carpenter earning $91,520 (index 84), the 2026–27 tax (resident, with tax-free threshold, excluding Medicare levy surcharge) would be roughly:

• $0 on first $18,200
• 15% on $18,201–$45,000 = $4,020
• 30% on $45,001–$135,000 = $13,956 (on the portion up to $91,520)
• Total tax ~$17,976
• Plus Medicare levy 2% = $1,830
• Take-home ~$71,714 per year, or $1,379 per week.

That's before any HELP repayments or salary sacrifice. The index uses gross ordinary-time earnings, so it's a pure pay comparison tool.

Summary

When you read a carpentry job ad, first check if the rate meets the award minimum ($31.84/hr). Then compare it to the median ($45/hr) and the national index (100 = $108,352). Use the Salary Index to see how the offer stacks up against other occupations and states. And remember: the best offer isn't always the highest hourly rate – consider hours, allowances, super, and location.

FAQs

What is the average carpentry salary in Australia? The median full-time non-managerial carpentry salary is $1,760 per week, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025). This annualises to about $91,520 before tax. On the Salary Index, that's roughly 84, meaning carpenters earn about 84% of the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark ($108,352).

What is the minimum wage for a carpenter under the award? Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award, a Level 3 carpenter or joiner must be paid at least $31.84 per hour (ordinary rate) from 1 July 2026, plus a tool allowance of $41.22 per week. The weekly minimum (including industry allowance) is about $1,186.25 for a 38-hour week. Apprentices are paid a percentage of this rate based on their year of training.

How does the carpentry salary compare to the national average? The national all-occupations median full-time earnings are $1,852 per week (index 100). Carpentry's median of $1,760 is about 5% lower. However, carpentry pay varies by state: for example, in Western Australia (state index 106.9) carpenters often earn more than in Tasmania (state index 88.6). The award minimum is well below the median, so many carpenters earn above the base rate.