Interested in working in the construction industry? Becoming a qualified carpenter is a financially smart move, with many opportunities to build a rewarding career in Australia.
The earning potential for qualified carpenters is strong. In Victoria alone, over 40,000 homes are built each year. This means tradies with the right qualifications and experience will always be high demand.
So, how much do qualified carpenters earn? To better answer this question, we look into the average wage a qualified carpenters can expect, as well as the type of career and earning potential you can achieve.
How much does a carpenter earn?
When you first start your career as an apprentice carpenter, your rate of pay will usually be at a starting point. It’s important to remember that you’ll be earning while learning and that your carpenter salary will increase as you progress.
According to PayScale, the average salary or rate of pay for a carpenter apprentice in Australia are:
- $15.01 – $21.98 per hour
- $22,665 – $47,012 per year
Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship training, your earning potential opens up considerably. The average qualified carpenter salary in Australia averages from around $40,000 to $90,000 a year – according to PayScale.
Why is this figure so varied? Put simply, the amount of money you earn will depend on who you work for (e.g. for a carpentry service, building and construction firm, or yourself), how many hours you work, the kind of carpentry jobs you choose to do, and how much experience you have.
The main benefit of becoming a qualified carpenter is the ability to start your own business. The construction industry is constantly evolving, which means there are many opportunities for qualified carpenters to find their niche and make an impact. If you’ve got business smarts, solid work experience, and a good team behind you, there’s no real cap on what you can earn.
How to become qualified carpenter
If you’re hoping to become a qualified carpenter, you’ll know that your journey begins with an apprenticeship. At Builders Academy Australia, we can help kickstart your career with our CPC30211 Certificate III in Carpentry (Carpenters). When you’ve successfully completed your apprenticeship training – combined with the relevant on-the-job training – you can start earning qualified carpenter wages.
At BAA, you’ll learn from some of the most experienced and innovative leaders in the building and construction industry. We teach our apprentice carpenters how to meet real-world needs and adapt to a constantly changing workforce.
By the time you graduate, you’ll also have access to our solid employer networks. This means you’ll be in a better position to break into the industry and start earning.
Taking it up a notch
The construction industry is an exciting arena to work in. As a qualified carpenter, you can build on your education and experience and take your career to new heights. It’s completely up to you how far you’d like to go.
As a graduate of the CPC302 Certificate III in Carpentry, you can enrol in the CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building). With this qualification under your belt, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to start looking into more supervisory roles within the industry, get licensed, and start your own carpentry business.
You might choose to go even further and enrol in the CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building). This nationally-recognised qualification can set you up to pursue a career as a project supervisor, building manager, estimator, foreperson, and more – it’s up to you.
The best part? Some of these higher-level jobs are seriously well paid. In fact, you can earn well over $150,00 a year – depending on your job title and experience. The wages almost speak for themselves.
Importantly, we know how busy qualified tradies are. That’s why we offer our building and construction courses online. This means if you’re ready to step up your game and find a higher-paying job, you’ll have the freedom to continue earning a living while upskilling at the same time.
Start your journey today
The bottom line? Qualified carpenters can earn great money in Australia.
If you’re interested in breaking into the industry, studying one of our building and construction courses online, or would simply like more information about wage rates and earning potential, get in touch with us today.
