How to become a Carpenter and Joiner
Cuts, shapes, fits and installs structures and fixtures of wood, plywood and wallboard, and cuts, shapes and fits timber parts to form structures and fittings.
Main tasks
- Studies blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine materials required and dimensions of structures or fixtures
- Operates woodworking machines to cut, shape and fit timber parts to form structures and fixtures such as cabinets, doors and window frames, and installs them using hand and power tools
- Constructs and installs stairs, handrails and balustrades
- Applies finishes such as paint, stain or varnish, and installs hardware such as hinges, locks and handles, on structures and fixtures
- Erects frameworks for structures such as walls, floors and roofs, using scaffolding and ladders
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Certificate III in Carpentry. Trade occupations are usually entered through an apprenticeship: paid work plus this qualification, typically 3 to 4 years.
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology (MSF30322); Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220); Certificate III in Joinery (CPC31920); Certificate III in Shopfitting (CPC30120); Certificate II in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology (MSF20322); Certificate III in Fenestration (MSM30418); Certificate II in Construction Pathways (CPC20220)
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $91,520 a year
- About 149,300 people work in this job group now, and about 165,600 are projected by 2035. (+10.9%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Carpenter and Joiner?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology; Certificate III in Carpentry; Certificate III in Carpentry.
How much does a Carpenter and Joiner earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $91,520 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Carpenter and Joiner a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 149,300 to about 165,600 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Carpenter and Joiner?
Usually not. Only 3% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology; Certificate III in Carpentry; Certificate III in Carpentry.
Will AI change the work of a Carpenter and Joiner?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04