Award pay for carpenters and other building trades from 1 July 2026: weekly and hourly rates for residential and commercial building, with take-home pay after tax in 2026–27.
A qualified carpenter on the award minimum earns $31.95 an hour ($1,214.04 a week, about $63,130 a year) in residential building, and $32.30 an hour on commercial sites. About $2,018 a fortnight after tax. Open in the pay calculator.
Carpenter pay at a glance
| Weekly | Hourly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential building | $1,214.04 | $31.95 | $63,130 | $2,018 |
| Commercial (non-residential) building | $1,227.47 | $32.30 | $63,828 | $2,036 |
Building trades pay rates
Weekly hire (full-time and part-time) rates, including the industry allowance and the tool allowance where it applies.
| Classification | Residential weekly | Residential hourly | Commercial weekly | Commercial hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (CW/ECW 1) level a, new entrant | $1,067.22 | $28.08 | $1,080.65 | $28.44 |
| Level 2 (CW/ECW 2) | $1,141.22 | $30.03 | $1,154.65 | $30.39 |
| Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) painter or glazier | $1,182.71 | $31.12 | $1,196.14 | $31.48 |
| Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) bricklayer | $1,202.08 | $31.63 | $1,215.51 | $31.99 |
| Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) plasterer, fixer or floorlayer specialist | $1,206.92 | $31.76 | $1,220.35 | $32.11 |
| Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) carpenter, joiner, stonemason or tilelayer | $1,214.04 | $31.95 | $1,227.47 | $32.30 |
| Level 4 (CW/ECW 4) joiner special class | $1,249.34 | $32.88 | $1,262.77 | $33.23 |
| Level 5 (CW/ECW 5) carpenter special class | $1,284.54 | $33.80 | $1,297.97 | $34.16 |
| Level 6 (CW/ECW 6) | $1,275.02 | $33.55 | $1,288.45 | $33.91 |
| Level 7 (CW/ECW 7) | $1,310.02 | $34.47 | $1,323.45 | $34.83 |
Overtime, weekend and public holiday rates (residential carpenter)
| When you work | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Overtime Mon-Fri, first 2 hours | $47.93 |
| Overtime Mon-Fri, after 2 hours | $63.90 |
| Saturday overtime after 12 noon | $63.90 |
| Sunday | $63.90 |
| Public holiday | $79.88 |
How it works
- The Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 covers on-site building, civil and metal and engineering construction. Residential and commercial building have different rates.
- A trade-qualified carpenter is Level 3 (CW/ECW 3). Special class carpenters are Level 5.
- Weekly hire employees are full-time or part-time. Daily hire employees get a higher hourly rate that includes a follow-the-job loading.
- Super is paid on top of these rates. Many builders pay above the award or have their own enterprise agreement.
Starting out? See apprentice carpenter wages for each year. Other trades: electrician pay.
Common questions
How much does a carpenter earn in Australia?
The award minimum for a qualified carpenter (Level 3, CW/ECW 3) is $1,214.04 a week, or $31.95 an hour, in residential building from 1 July 2026, and $1,227.47 ($32.30 an hour) on commercial sites. That's about $63,130 to $63,828 a year before overtime. Many carpenters are paid above the award.
What is the carpenter hourly rate?
$31.95 an hour for a full-time residential carpenter and $32.30 for commercial work, including the industry and tool allowances. Daily hire carpenters in residential building get $32.96, which includes the follow-the-job loading.
How much does a carpenter take home?
On the residential award minimum of about $63,130 a year, take-home pay is about $2,018 a fortnight after tax in 2026–27.
What are carpenters paid on weekends?
For a residential carpenter: Saturday overtime after 12 noon and Sunday are $63.90 an hour (double time) and public holidays $79.88.
When do the rates go up?
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July each year, after the Annual Wage Review. Next: 1 July 2027 (Annual Wage Review).
See also the penalty rates calculator, hourly rates after tax and the weekly tax table.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide MA000020 (published 2 July 2026), Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 [MA000020], rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Take-home pay: ATO tax rates. Checked 2026-10-21. General information only.