Carpenter salary in Australia: what you take home after tax and Medicare
A qualified carpenter earns between $63,130 (award minimum) and $91,520 (median) annually before tax, with take-home pay ranging from about $2,018 to $2,758 per fortnight.
How much does a carpenter earn in Australia?
If you're looking at a career in the building trades or hiring a carpenter, understanding the carpenter salary landscape helps you plan your finances. In Australia, carpenter pay varies by experience, location, and whether you work on residential or commercial sites. This guide breaks down the award minimums, median earnings, and what you actually take home after tax and the Medicare levy.
Award minimum rates for qualified carpenters
Fair Work's Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 sets minimum pay for carpenters. From 1 July 2026, a qualified carpenter at Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) earns:
- Residential building: $31.95 per hour, $1,214.04 per week, about $63,130 per year
- Commercial building: $32.30 per hour, $1,227.47 per week, about $63,828 per year
These rates include industry and tool allowances. Many builders pay above the award, especially for experienced or special-class carpenters (Level 5), who earn $33.80 per hour residential and $34.16 commercial.
Median earnings for carpenters
Jobs and Skills Australia reports the median full-time weekly earnings for carpenters and joiners at $1,760, with a median hourly rate of $45. That's significantly above the award minimum and reflects the fact that many carpenters work overtime or in higher-paying roles. The median annual salary works out to about $91,520 before tax.
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), and the average full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year). A carpenter on the median sits comfortably above the minimum but below the all-occupations average.
What you take home after tax and Medicare
Your take-home pay depends on your total taxable income. Here are estimates for two common carpenter salary levels, using the 2026–27 tax rates and the Medicare levy (2%). The latest single-person Medicare levy thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013 – but full-time carpenters exceed these, so you pay the full 2%.
Award minimum ($63,130):
- Tax: $9,459
- Medicare levy: $1,263
- Take-home: $52,408 per year, about $2,015 per fortnight
Median earnings ($91,520):
- Tax: $17,976
- Medicare levy: $1,830
- Take-home: $71,714 per year, about $2,758 per fortnight
These are estimates only. Your actual take-home may differ if you have HELP/HECS debt, salary sacrifice arrangements, or other deductions. Use our Take-home pay calculator for a more precise figure.
Superannuation and super guarantee
Employers must pay super on top of your salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% applies to earnings up to $270,830. If a job ad says "$90,000 plus super", that's on top of your salary – it's not deducted from your take-home.
How carpenter salary compares to other trades
Compared to other building trades, carpenters earn more than bricklayers ($31.63/hr) and painters ($31.12/hr) but less than special-class joiners ($33.80. The median $45/hr puts carpenters ahead of many trades. For more benchmarks, see our [Benchmarks](/benchmarks] page.
Questions
What is the average carpenter salary in Australia?
The median full-time weekly earnings for a carpenter are $1,760, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $91,520 a year before tax. Many carpenters earn above the award minimum, which for a qualified Level 3 carpenter is $63,130 in residential building or $63,828 in commercial building.
How much tax and Medicare levy does a carpenter pay?
For a carpenter earning the award minimum of $63,130, the estimated tax is about $9,459 plus Medicare levy of $1,263, leaving take-home pay of roughly $52,408 a year ($2,015 per fortnight). At the median of $91,520, tax is about $17,976 plus Medicare levy of $1,830, leaving take-home of about $71,714 a year ($2,758 per fortnight). These are estimates only and exclude HELP/HECS or other deductions.
What is the hourly rate for a carpenter under the award?
From 1 July 2026, the Building and Construction General On-site Award sets the minimum hourly rate for a qualified carpenter (Level 3) at $31.95 for residential work and $32.30 for commercial work. Overtime and penalty rates are higher, with Sunday and public holiday rates at $63.90 and $79.88 per hour respectively.