Carpentry Apprenticeship

A Carpentry Apprenticeship will prepare you for a job where you will cut, shape and install building materials in the construction of residential, commercial and industrial building and infrastructure.

As a carpentry apprentice you are joining the growing building trade offering opportunities to work outdoors and with further qualifications and experience work towards becoming your own boss.

There are three main specialisation areas within carpentry and depending on who your host employer is, your on-the-job training with see you qualified in one of these areas. These are:

As a carpenter apprentice your on-the-job training will take 3-4 years.

During this time you will complete a nationally accredited qualification, such as:

• CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry
• CPC31920 Certificate III in Joinery
• CPC30120 Certificate III in Shopfitting

One of the world's oldest trades, a carpenter is a skilled worker who crafts wood and other materials to construct, install, and repair various structures, fixtures, and furniture.

Carpenters typically work in the construction industry, but they can also be employed by manufacturers or work as independent contractors.

Day to day tasks for a Carpentry Apprentice can include:

• Setting out an outline of the building on the ground of the site, using string and pegs to allow for excavations
• Cutting materials with hand and power tools, and assembling, nailing, cutting or shaping parts
• Reading and interpreting plans and specifications to determine the dimensions, materials required and installation processes
• Constructing formwork into which concrete is poured to form the slab or base of a building
• Building floors, wall frameworks (timber or metal) and roofs, and laying timber floors
• Installing door handles, locks, hardware, flooring underlay, insulating material and other fixtures

A qualified carpenter in Australia typically earns $70,000 to $90,000, however salaries can be higher in certain industries such as mining, resources and energy. (Seek)

Wages for a carpentry apprentice are under the Building Award, and are determined by factors such as your age at commencement, Modern Award inclusions and other benefits. 

Indicative wages for a carpentry apprentice as at 1 July 2024:

• Under 17 years of age: $604.37 to $1,017.29 per week

• 17 to 20 years of age: $655.99 to $1,017.29 per week

• Over 21 years of age: $1,023.02 per week (pay rate remains the same for all year levels as an adult)

Carpenter Apprentices are part of the Government's Australian Apprenticeships Priority List, and additional support payments for eligible apprentices are currently available. 

The sorts of skills and aptitude required of carpentry apprentices include:

• Enjoyment of practical and manual work
• Problem-solving skills
• Spatial awareness
• Working from drawings
• Safety awareness