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Carpenters and Joiners

Carpenters and Joiners construct, erect, install, renovate and repair structures and fixtures made of wood, plywood, wallboard and other materials, and cut, shape and fit timber parts to form structures and fittings.

Trades & constructionLicensed workANZSCO 3312
$1,760/wkMedian full-time pay
150kPeople employed
+11% ▲Growth to 2035
89%Work full time
30Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3312.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

studying drawings and specifications to determine materials required, dimensions and installation proceduresordering and selecting timbers and materials, and preparing layoutscutting materials, and assembling and nailing cut and shaped partserecting framework and roof framing, laying sub-flooring and floorboards and verifying trueness of structuresnailing fascia panels, sheathing roofs, and fitting exterior wall cladding and door and window framesassembling prepared wood to form structures and fittings ready to install
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 3312 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 16,300 more people in carpenters and joiners by 2035 ▲

The field grew 2% in the year to February 2026, adding about 2,900 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and VIC, with QLD third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3312.More about our sources: How we check our facts
149.3k2025
158.8k2030 PROJ.
165.6k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most carpenters and joiners came through a certificate or diploma. 71% did.

A university degree is rare here: 3% hold one. The trade qualification is the standard way in. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 3312. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

CPC30326Certificate III

Certificate III in Carpentry

Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package · licensed work.

See 313 providers
CPC31920Certificate III

Certificate III in Joinery

Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package · licensed work.

See 27 providers
CPC30120Certificate III

Certificate III in Shopfitting

Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package · licensed work.

See 9 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 6 mapped courses
CPC30326Certificate III in Carpentry · 313 providers
CPC31920Certificate III in Joinery · 27 providers
CPC30120Certificate III in Shopfitting · 9 providers
FWP30920Certificate III in Timber Frame or Truss Manufacture · 0 providers
FWP31220Certificate III in Timber Systems Design · 0 providers
FWP40420Certificate IV in Timber Systems Design · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

150k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3312.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

NSW47k
VIC43.4k
QLD27.9k
WA11.9k
SA9.1k
TAS3.4k
ACT1.7k
NT0.9k

Occupations near this one

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