Carpentry is the biggest apprenticeship intake in Australian construction, and the pay question comes up before anything else. Unlike most guides, this one gives you the actual dollar figures rather than percentages — these are the Fair Work minimums for a carpentry apprentice as at 1 July 2026.
What a carpentry apprentice actually earns
These are the legal minimum weekly and hourly rates for a four-year carpentry apprenticeship in the residential sector, under the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020), for apprenticeships started after 1 January 2014.
| Stage | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year — did not complete Year 12 | $654.49 | $17.22 |
| 1st year — completed Year 12 | $710.45 | $18.70 |
| 2nd year — did not complete Year 12 | $766.40 | $20.17 |
| 2nd year — completed Year 12 | $822.36 | $21.64 |
| 3rd year | $934.27 | $24.59 |
| 4th year | $1,102.13 | $29.00 |
These figures already include the industry allowance and the tool allowance, which is why they look higher than a bare percentage calculation. From third year onward, whether you finished Year 12 stops mattering — everyone lands on the same rate.
The jump from third to fourth year is the biggest single step in the apprenticeship, around $168 a week. Finishing your qualification lifts you again to the qualified carpenter rate, which is a substantially larger jump than any year-to-year step.
The sector you work in changes the number
The rates above are residential. Carpenters working commercial or civil projects sit on a different and generally higher schedule under the same award, because the site allowances differ. If you’re on a high-rise, infrastructure or government job, don’t assume the residential figure applies to you.
A registered enterprise agreement overrides the award entirely. On large commercial sites, particularly union-covered ones, an EBA is common and apprentice rates under it are often well above the award floor. If your site has an EBA, that document sets your pay, not this table.
What’s on top of the base rate
The table is ordinary hours only. Carpenters routinely earn above it through overtime at time-and-a-half for the first two hours and double time after that, weekend and public holiday penalties, and the daily fares and travel allowance most on-site carpenters receive. Living-away-from-home allowances apply if the job takes you off your usual patch.
Adult apprentices
If you started your apprenticeship at 21 or over, you’re entitled to a higher minimum than the school-leaver rates above. Adult apprentice rates sit on their own schedule in the award — they’re not in the table here, so check yours directly with Fair Work rather than assuming.
Your qualification
A carpentry apprenticeship leads to CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry, covering setting out, framing, formwork, roofing, and finishing work in both timber and non-timber materials. It typically runs four years, combining paid on-site work with block or day release at a registered training organisation.
Carpentry isn’t a licensed trade for working as an employee, but contracting for yourself is a different matter — most states require a builder’s or trade contractor licence above a certain job value, through bodies like NSW Fair Trading, the QBCC in Queensland or the VBA in Victoria. Worth knowing before you go out on your own.
How to check your exact rate
Don’t take a figure from any website, this one included, as gospel for your specific situation. The Fair Work Pay Calculator takes your award, sector, apprenticeship year, age and start date and returns your legal minimum. If your pay doesn’t line up, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s helpline on 13 13 94 is free and they can investigate underpayment on your behalf.
FAQ
How much does a first-year carpentry apprentice get paid?
From 1 July 2026, $654.49 a week if you didn’t finish Year 12, or $710.45 if you did, for residential work under MA000020. That’s $17.22 and $18.70 an hour respectively.
Does finishing Year 12 really change my pay?
Yes, but only for your first two years. It’s worth about $56 a week in each of those years, then the difference disappears from third year onward.
Do carpentry apprentices get a tool allowance?
Yes, and it’s already built into the rates above rather than paid separately on top.
What does a qualified carpenter earn?
The award minimum for a qualified carpenter is well above the fourth-year apprentice rate, and most carpenters earn above the minimum in practice. Check the current qualified rate for your sector on the Fair Work calculator.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Rates were correct at 1 July 2026 and change annually. Check the official source and your state authority before acting.
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