What is the minimum wage for a carpenter?

Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award, a qualified carpenter is classified at Level 3. The minimum ordinary hourly rate is $32.11 (including industry allowance). This is higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.

Does the carpenter salary include superannuation?

No. The $32.11 rate is before tax and does not include super. Employers must pay an additional 12% super guarantee on top of ordinary time earnings.

Can a carpenter be paid less than $32.11?

Only if they are an apprentice or junior under the award. Apprentice rates are a percentage of the standard rate. Otherwise, the award minimum applies and cannot be undercut.

Carpenter salary: minimum rates under the Building Award

The minimum ordinary hourly rate for a qualified carpenter under the Building and Construction General On-site Award is $32.11, including industry allowance, as at July 2026.

Carpenter salary: what the law says

If you are looking for the current carpenter salary in Australia, the starting point is the legal minimum set by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020). This award covers most on-site building and construction workers, including carpenters and joiners. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide that summarises the minimum rates .

Minimum award rate for a qualified carpenter

A qualified carpenter is typically classified at Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) under the award. The ordinary hourly rate, which includes the industry allowance, is $32.11 per hour as at the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. This is the minimum you must be paid before any penalties, overtime or allowances. The corresponding weekly rate is $1,220.18 (38 ordinary hours).

This award rate is significantly higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. The national minimum applies only if you are not covered by any award or registered agreement. Because the Building Award covers carpenters, the award rate is your legal floor.

How superannuation fits in

When discussing a carpenter salary, remember that superannuation is an extra payment on top. Employers must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund. So on $32.11 per hour, the employer pays an additional $3.85 into super, making the total cost to the employer about $35.96 per hour. Your take-home pay is before tax.

Legal minimum vs survey averages

This guide focuses on the legal minimum. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a specific average salary for carpenters. Industry surveys or job advertisements may quote higher figures, but those are not guaranteed minimums. Your actual pay may be higher if you have experience, work overtime, or have negotiated a better rate. However, no employer can pay less than the award rate unless you are an apprentice or junior.

Apprentice and junior rates

If you are an apprentice carpenter, your pay is a percentage of the standard rate (Level 3). For example, a first-year apprentice who has completed Year 12 receives 55% of the standard rate, which works out to about $17.66 per hour (before industry allowance adjustments). Junior rates for award-covered employees are set by the award, not the national junior percentages. Always check the award for your exact classification.

How to check your rate

Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or the Which minimum wage applies page on this site to see if your award applies. You can also browse Rate tables for other classifications. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, that agreement may set a higher rate than the award.

Key points to remember

The carpenter salary minimum under the Building Award is $32.11 per hour (ordinary time).
Super is paid on top at 12%.
Apprentices and juniors have lower minimums.
The award rate overrides the national minimum wage.
Always check the latest award or agreement, as rates change each July.

For more detail on how these figures are calculated, see How the figures work.