What is the typical carpenter salary in Australia?

Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, a carpenter is typically classified at Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) with a minimum hourly rate of $29.45 as of July 2026. For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, that equates to $1,119.10 per week or $58,366 per year before casual loading, allowances, and super. Actual earnings may be higher due to industry allowances, tool allowances, or enterprise agreements.

How is casual loading calculated for a carpenter?

Casual employees under the award receive a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate in lieu of paid leave and other entitlements. For a carpenter at Level 3 ($29.45/hour), the casual rate is $36.81 per hour. This loading is applied on top of the base rate, not on top of penalty rates or overtime. Always enter the base hourly rate (without loading) into a calculator, then check the casual loading option.

What tax and super apply to a carpenter's pay?

For 2026–27, resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Medicare levy is 2%. Superannuation guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a carpenter earning $58,366, the estimated super contribution is $7,004 per year.

Carpenter Salary Guide: Hourly to Annual Pay, Casual Loading, and Super

A full-time carpenter under the Building and Construction Award earns at least $29.45 per hour, or $58,366 per year for 38 hours per week, before casual loading, super, and tax.

Understanding the Carpenter Salary in Australia

If you are a carpenter or hiring one, knowing how to convert an hourly rate into annual, fortnightly, and take-home pay is essential. This guide uses the latest Fair Work Ombudsman award rates and Australian Tax Office figures to give you a clear picture of a carpenter salary in 2026.

Hourly to Annual Conversion

The standard formula for annual gross pay is:

Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52

We assume a full-time working week of 38 ordinary hours, as defined in the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020. For a carpenter classified at Level 3 (CW/ECW 3), the minimum hourly rate is $29.45. That gives:

Weekly: $29.45 × 38 = $1,119.10
Fortnightly: $1,119.10 × 2 = $2,238.20
Annual: $1,119.10 × 52 = $58,366

This is the minimum before any allowances, casual loading, or overtime. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database confirms these rates are updated annually after the Wage Review.

The Role of Casual Loading

Many carpenters work as casuals. The award requires a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate for all ordinary hours worked. This compensates for not receiving paid leave or redundancy benefits.

For a casual carpenter at Level 3:

Base rate: $29.45/hour
Casual rate: $29.45 × 1.25 = $36.81/hour

When using a pay calculator, always enter the base hourly rate (without loading) and then select the casual loading option. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading, as that would double-count it.

Superannuation and Tax

Superannuation is paid on top of your gross earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a carpenter earning $58,366, the employer must contribute an extra $7,004 into your super fund.

Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident rates:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% of excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 + 30% of excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 + 37% of excess over $135,000
Above $190,000: $51,370 + 45% of excess over $190,000

Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income (with reductions for low-income earners). For a carpenter earning $58,366, the estimated tax plus Medicare is about $9,200, leaving a take-home of around $49,166 per year (before super, which is separate).

Fortnightly Pay

Most construction workers are paid weekly or fortnightly. A fortnightly gross pay for a full-time carpenter at Level 3 is $2,238.20. After tax and Medicare, the net fortnightly amount would be roughly $1,890. Super is not deducted from your pay; it is an employer contribution on top.

Award Rates vs Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Award rates for carpenters are higher because they include industry-specific allowances. The Building and Construction Award also includes a follow-the-job loading and tool allowance for daily hire employees, which are already factored into the ordinary hourly rate shown in the award.

For more detail on pay conditions, see the pay guides and reference tables on this site. You can also use the timesheet to calculate your own annual and fortnightly figures.

Important Disclaimer

Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

For more on casual work, see casual loading. For super and packaging, see super and packaging. For take-home pay estimates, see take-home pay.