Carpenter / Joiner Salary 2026/27: ONS + Self-Employed Take-Home
UK carpenters and joiners (ONS SOC 5315) are one of the most in-demand skilled trades in the construction labour shortage. ONS ASHE 2025 records median employee annual salary of £33,797 at £17.00/hour; mean £36,363 (skewed by high earners). Regional variation £28,888 East Midlands to £37,899 London. Self-employed hourly rates £20 (Belfast) to £36 (London), most national average £27/hour.
Typical pay & take-home
- Median gross
- £33,797
- Typical range
- £24,000–£65,000
- Take-home at median
- £27,853
England, no pension applied — use the salary calculator for your scheme.
At the median for this profession, you earn 13% below the UK full-time median (£39,039), placing you in the bottom 37% of UK earners.
What influences carpenter / joiner pay
Carpenter / joiner pay splits along the same employee vs self-employed divide as other trades. Around 60% are self-employed per CITB labour-market analysis. CIS deductions at 20% (registered) or 30% (unregistered) on subcontract earnings.
Specialisation drives premium pay. General site carpenter £25-£30/hour; first-fix specialist (kitchens, staircases) £30-£35/hour; bench joiner / cabinet maker / shopfitter £30-£40/hour; conservation / heritage joiner £40-£55/hour; theatre / film set carpentry day rates £400-£600 with significant overtime.
CSCS card scheme + UK Trade Skills Card (NVQ Level 2 / 3) required for most major contractor sites. Apprenticeship route (3 years) earns £10,000-£18,000 during training. Most carpenter apprentices reach £24,000-£28,000 PAYE within 1 year post-qualification, £35,000+ within 5 years.
Career progression
- Carpentry apprentice (NVQ Level 2 / 3, 3 years): £10,000-£18,000 apprentice wage.
- Newly qualified carpenter (PAYE): £24,000-£30,000.
- Mid-career site carpenter (5-10 years PAYE): £32,000-£40,000.
- Senior carpenter / foreman (PAYE): £40,000-£50,000.
- Self-employed sole trader (£27/hr UK avg): £45,000-£55,000 pre-expenses.
- Bench joiner / shopfitter / heritage specialist: £50,000-£75,000.
Frequently asked questions
- What take-home should a £33,797 PAYE carpenter expect?
- On £33,797 gross with 5% workplace pension, take-home is approximately £25,700/year (~£2,140/month) after Income Tax (20% basic), NI (8% main) and pension. London carpenter at £37,899 takes home approximately £28,400.
- Is carpentry a stable trade through downturns?
- More stable than bricklaying because carpentry spans first-fix construction, second-fix refurbishment, heritage restoration, shopfitting, and theatre / film work. Downturns hit new-build construction first; carpenters who can pivot to refurbishment + shopfitting see more stable work. ONS construction-industry data show carpenter unemployment lower than the broader construction sector through both 2008-12 and 2020-21 downturns.
- Self-employed vs PAYE for a carpenter?
- £27/hour × 35 hrs × 45 weeks (allowing for holidays + weather) = £42,500 gross self-employed. Net after CIS 20%, Class 4 + Class 2 NI, allowable expenses (tools, PPE, mileage, phone, insurance): approximately £31,000-£33,000. Versus PAYE £33,797 net £25,700 = ~£6,000-£7,000/year cash premium. Tighter than bricklayer because hourly rates relatively low. PAYE often wins on total reward at mid-career given employer pension + SSP + holiday pay.