Where does the carpenter salary sit against the national average?
If you're a carpenter in Australia or considering the trade, you probably want to know how the pay compares with the typical Australian full-time worker. The short answer: the median full-time carpenter earns less than the national full-time average, but still above the all-employees median and well above the minimum wage.
The key figure: median weekly earnings of $1,760
The most current and reliable source for carpenter earnings is the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. It gives a median full-time weekly earnings figure of $1,760 for Carpenters and Joiners. That's before tax and salary-sacrifice amounts, and it excludes managers, part-timers, and junior workers to give a clearer picture of typical adult full-time pay.
Multiply by 52 weeks and you get about $91,520 a year. That's a useful benchmark, but remember it's a median – half of full-time carpenters earn more, half earn less.
How it compares to the national full-time average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings report for May 2026 puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. That's the figure we use as the 'line' on this site. The carpenter median of $1,760 is $323.70 per week less – about 15.5% below the national average.
This gap isn't surprising. The national average is pulled up by high-paying professions like managers and professionals. Carpenters sit in the middle of the pack: above many service and retail roles, but below the overall average.
Carpenter pay vs other benchmarks
- All-employees median: The ABS reports a median of $1,425 per week for all employees in August 2025 (including part-time and casual). The carpenter full-time median of $1,760 is well above that.
- Full-time median for all occupations: The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) gives a full-time median of $1,852 per week for all occupations. Carpenters at $1,760 are about $92 below that – roughly 5% less.
- National minimum wage: From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. Carpenters typically earn much more, with a median hourly rate around $45 (based on $1,760 over 38 hours).
What about state differences?
Carpenter pay isn't uniform across Australia. While the ABS doesn't break down carpenter earnings by state, the national full-time averages vary significantly. For example, the ACT has the highest average at $2,290.20 per week, while Tasmania has the lowest at $1,846.30. Carpenters in high-wage states like Western Australia ($2,227.40 average) or the ACT may earn above the national carpenter median, while those in Tasmania or South Australia ($1,970.20) may earn less. For a full breakdown, see our States and territories page.
How is carpenter pay set?
Most carpenters in Australia have their pay determined by one of three methods:
- Awards: The Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 covers many carpenters. It sets minimum hourly rates that increase each year (the latest 4.75% increase from 1 July 2026 applies to award rates).
- Enterprise agreements: Some larger construction sites have union-negotiated agreements that pay above award rates.
- Individual contracts: Self-employed carpenters or those on private contracts negotiate their own rates, which can vary widely.
The median figure of $1,760 reflects the mix of all these arrangements.
What about part-time and casual carpenters?
The $1,760 figure is for full-time workers only. About 89% of carpenters work full-time, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Part-time and casual carpenters earn less per week but may have higher hourly rates to compensate for lack of leave. The ABS doesn't publish a separate median for part-time carpenters.
How does the carpenter median compare to other trades?
Carpenters earn a similar median to many other construction trades. For example, electricians and plumbers often have comparable medians. You can explore other occupations on our Job medians page.
What about take-home pay after tax?
Using the 2026–27 tax rates, a carpenter earning the median $91,520 would pay:
- Nil tax on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
- 30% on the next $46,520 ($13,956)
- Plus 2% Medicare levy ($1,830.40) Total tax and Medicare: about $19,806.40, leaving a take-home of roughly $71,713.60 per year, or $1,379 per week.
Where to find more detail
If you want to compare your own salary to the national average, use our Place a salary on the line tool. For industry-wide comparisons, see Industry medians. And for a deeper look at how these figures are collected and calculated, visit How the figures are set.
The bottom line
The median full-time carpenter salary in Australia is $1,760 per week, about $91,520 a year. That's below the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week, but above the all-employees median and well above the minimum wage. It's a solid middle-income trade, with potential to earn more through overtime, specialised skills, or working in higher-paying states.