How Much Do Carpentry Apprentices Earn?

A carpentry apprenticeship will give you the skills and knowledge needed to become a qualified tradie and kick-start a rewarding career. But before you get started, there might be one question you’re asking yourself – how much can I earn?

To answer this, we dig a little deeper into the kind of apprentice wages you can expect, as well as what your carpentry career and earning potential in Australia looks like.

What’s covered in the Cert III?

Carpenter Apprentice Salary in Australia

According to PayScale, the average salary or wage rates for an apprentice carpenter in Australia are:

• $15.01 – $21.98 per hour
• $22,665 – $47,012 per year

One of the major incentives for doing a carpentry apprenticeship is getting paid while you learn. While many of your friends might still be at high school or university, you’ll be out in the world making a living and developing sought-after skills.

Let’s start with the basics. To earn apprentice wages, you’ll have to sign a training contract with your employer and undertake the CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry (Carpenters). Once your carpentry apprenticeship is set up, you can start bringing in the money.

Wondering why there aren’t set wage rates? That’s because your earnings change during the course of your apprenticeship. As you progress through your apprenticeship, your salary will increase based on the level of your training and experience. For example, your 3rd-year carpenter salary will be higher than your 1st-year carpenter salary.

There are two ways you can move to the next level of an apprenticeship:

• Time-based. You’ll move to the next pay level after you’ve worked a certain amount of time (e.g. 12 months).
• Competency-based. You’ll move to the next pay level when you’ve achieved a certain amount of the total skill or training requirements of your apprenticeship (this might be earlier than 12 months).

The one that applies to you will depend on which award you’re covered by. To wrap your head around the finer details of this, as well as your workplace rights and obligations, it’s best to visit the Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman website.

Take Our Quiz to Find Out Your Earning Potential

 

How Much Do You Earn as a Qualified Apprentice?

Once you’ve completed your carpentry apprenticeship, your earning potential starts to open up. According to PayScale, qualified carpenters in Australia earn an average salary from around $40,000 to $90,000 a year.

How much you earn also depends on who you work for, how often, and what type of carpenter jobs you do. Like most careers, the more experienced you become, the more you are likely to be able to earn.

Qualified carpenters can also start their own business. Depending on how business savvy and successful you are, there’s really no limit to what you can earn. Plus, the demand for qualified carpenters in Australia is strong. This means no matter what field of carpentry you’re interested in, the job prospect looks promising.

How To Find A Carpentry Apprenticeship?

There are several ways to find an apprenticeship opportunity if you’re interested in becoming a carpentry apprentice. One option is to enrol in a registered training organisation that offers carpentry apprenticeships. Another option is to get in touch with local carpentry businesses and construction companies to enquire about apprenticeship opportunities.

At Builders Academy Australia, we can help you start your carpentry career with our CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry (Carpenters). Once you’ve completed your carpentry apprenticeship, you’ll have the skills, knowledge and techniques needed to start earning at the wage rates of qualified carpenters.

Whether you’re fresh out of high school or itching for a career change, this course is a fantastic entry point into the industry. At BAA, we’re committed to giving you the highest level of education and training. With strong connections in the industry, we offer a great way to lay the foundations for your career.

Study at Builders Academy Australia and Enter the Building and Construction Industry

When you become a qualified carpenter, you’ll have the opportunity to enrol in the CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building). This course is your next step towards owning your own business and becoming a registered builder.

You can then take it up a notch and enrol in the CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building). Armed with this nationally recognised qualification, you can make a living in a number of carpentry jobs, such as a project supervisor, building manager, site supervisor, estimator, project manager or foreperson.

According to PayScale, some of these higher-level carpentry jobs in the building and construction industry can earn you well over $150,000 a year. Compared to other industries in Australia, the earning potential in building and construction is really impressive. The best part? It can all begin with a carpentry apprenticeship.

How Much is the Average Salary of a Qualified Carpenter?

At Builders Academy Australia, we’re here to help you start your journey. If you’re interested in a carpentry apprenticeship, would like to know more about apprentice wages through a Certificate III in Carpentry, take our quiz to find out your earning potential.

Take Our Quiz to Find Out Your Earning Potential

This article has been updated and republished on 12th March 2023.