Before you start a cabinetmaker apprenticeship, it helps to know what the pay is really like. Here is the plain-English version for 2026.
Which award covers you?
Cabinetmaker apprentices are usually covered by the Joinery and Building Trades Award (MA000029). A Modern Award sets the legal minimum pay for the industry. If your employer has a registered enterprise agreement (EBA), your pay may come from that instead. Not sure which applies? The Fair Work Ombudsman can tell you.
How apprentice pay works
Apprentice wages are a percentage of the qualified tradesperson rate that steps up each year — often from around half the qualified rate in year one to close to the full rate in your final year. Exact percentages vary by award and usually change on 1 July each year, so we point you to the source rather than quote a figure that will date.
Year 12 and adult apprentices
Many awards pay a higher percentage to apprentices who finished Year 12, and if you start as an adult apprentice (generally 21+) you are usually entitled to a higher minimum than a school-leaver. Confirm this before you sign on.
What else you get paid
- Allowances for tools, travel and site conditions
- Penalty rates for weekends, public holidays and overtime
- Superannuation on top of your wage
- Paid time to attend TAFE in most arrangements
How to check your correct rate
Use the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Calculator at fairwork.gov.au — enter your award, apprentice year and age and it returns the current legal minimum. If your pay does not add up, Fair Work has a free helpline and can investigate underpayment.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman and your award for exact rates.