Carpentry Salary: What You Actually Take Home After Tax and Medicare

Understanding Your Carpentry Salary

When you see a carpentry salary advertised, it’s easy to mix up the gross figure, the total package, and what actually lands in your bank account. This guide breaks down each part so you know exactly what to expect.

Gross Salary vs. Package vs. Take-Home

Your gross salary is the amount before any deductions. Your total package includes gross salary plus employer super contributions (12% from 1 July 2026). Your take-home pay is what remains after income tax and the Medicare levy are withheld. Super is not deducted from your take-home pay – it’s an extra contribution your employer makes on top.

Award Rates for Carpenters

Most carpenters in Australia are covered by either the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 or the Joinery and Building Trades Award 2020. Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides and full award details.

Building and Construction General On-site Award

For a Level 3 carpenter (CW/ECW 3) under this award, the minimum hourly rate including industry allowance, follow-the-job loading, and tool allowance is $31.84 per hour for daily hire . The award itself lists a base minimum hourly rate of $29.45, but the pay guide reflects the common application of allowances .

Working 38 hours per week, that gives a gross annual salary of about $62,900.

Joinery and Building Trades Award

For a carpenter or joiner classified at Level 4 under this award, the minimum weekly rate is $1,062.90, or $27.97 per hour. Tool allowances add extra – for example, a carpenter and/or joiner receives $41.22 per week for supplying and maintaining tools.

Calculating Take-Home Pay

To see what you’ll actually receive, we apply 2026–27 tax rates and the Medicare levy. For a $62,900 gross carpentry salary:

• Income tax: Using the resident tax scale, tax payable is about $9,338 after the Low Income Tax Offset.
• Medicare levy: Full 2% applies because your income is above the single upper threshold of $35,013. That’s $1,258.
• Total deductions: $10,596.
• Take-home pay: $52,304 per year, or $2,012 per fortnight.

This is an estimate only – it excludes HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary sacrifice. Use our Take-home pay tool for a personalised calculation.

Key Points to Remember

• Your carpentry salary is often quoted as a gross figure. Always check if it’s “plus super” or “including super”.
• The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week – carpentry awards pay more.
• Super is 12% from 1 July 2026 and is not deducted from your take-home pay.
• The Medicare levy is 2% for full-time workers. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013 – above $35,013 you pay the full 2%.

For more on how tax and Medicare affect your income, see our Tax and Medicare guide.