jobfacts

Carpenter

Carpenters and joiners — SOC 2020 5316

Carpenters and joiners construct, erect, install and repair wooden structures and fittings used in internal and external frameworks and cut, shape, fit and assemble wood to make templates, jigs, scale models and scenic equipment for theatres.

Also calledJoinerBench joinerShopfitterShuttering erectorCarpenter and builderJoiner foremanand 62 more titles
Typical full-time pay£34,0002025 Provisional
People in the job175,000across the UK
Demand for workersNot high
New adverts a month2,100↓ 8.3%on last year · 87th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time carpenters earn between £28,900 and £40,500 a year.

What full-time carpenters earn, 2025
£34,000 typical£23,500lowest 10%£28,90025%£42,600top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£28,900–£40,500)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£23,500
Lowest 20% earn less than£27,600
25%£28,900
Median£34,000
75%£40,500
Top 20% earn more than£42,600
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
More than half (62%) of carpenters work for themselves. These pay figures only cover employees, so they may not reflect what self-employed carpenters earn.
Typical pay by regionUK median £34,000
London!£38,000
South West!£36,700
South East!£35,000
North East!£35,000
Scotland£34,500
East of England!£34,200
North West£33,400
West Midlands£32,800
Wales!£30,700
Yorkshire and The Humber£30,700
East Midlands!£29,400
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £34,000
London£38,000 (small sample)
South West£36,700 (small sample)
South East£35,000 (small sample)
North East£35,000 (small sample)
Scotland£34,500
East of England£34,200 (small sample)
North West£33,400
West Midlands£32,800
Wales£30,700 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£30,700
East Midlands£29,400 (small sample)
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £30,500
  • 2024 £32,900
  • 2025 Provisional£34,000
↑ 11% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 2,100 jobs for carpenters are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as not high.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20263,236
Jul 20262,841
Jun 20262,218
May 20261,980
Apr 20261,853
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,578
Jan 20261,859
Dec 2025766
Nov 20251,790
Oct 20252,339
Sept 20252,416
Aug 20253,103
Jul 20253,226
Jun 20252,710
May 20252,813
Apr 20251,973
Mar 20252,195
Feb 20252,305
Jan 20251,598
Dec 2024829
Nov 20241,585
Oct 20242,327
Sept 20242,482
Aug 20243,539
Jul 20243,161
Jun 20242,481
May 20242,694
Apr 20241,978
Mar 20241,207
Feb 20241,376
Jan 20241,545
Dec 2023942
Nov 20231,140
Oct 20231,162
Sept 20231,435
Aug 20231,933
Jul 20231,943
Jun 20233,005
May 20232,607
Apr 20232,162
Mar 20232,334
Feb 20232,453
Jan 20232,348
Dec 20221,706
Nov 20223,140
Oct 20223,171
Sept 20222,986
Aug 20224,048
Jul 20222,956
Jun 20222,804
May 20222,792
Apr 20221,851
Mar 20222,467
Feb 20222,313
Jan 20222,653
Dec 20211,937
Nov 20212,454
Oct 20212,481
Sept 20213,142
Aug 20213,221
Jul 20214,200
Jun 20213,792
May 20213,697
Apr 20213,293
Mar 20213,864
Feb 20212,242
Jan 20212,485
Dec 20201,706
Nov 20202,244
Oct 20202,740
Sept 20202,628
Aug 20202,761
Jul 20201,890
Jun 20201,062
May 2020617
Apr 2020813
Mar 20201,602
Feb 20202,018
Jan 20201,945
Dec 20191,301
Nov 20192,063
Oct 20192,279
Sept 20192,530
Aug 20193,117
Jul 20192,973
Jun 20192,382
May 20192,541
Apr 20191,608
Mar 20191,667
Feb 20191,637
Jan 20192,209
Dec 20181,063
Nov 20181,888
Oct 20182,420
Sept 20182,405
Aug 20183,116
Jul 20182,671
Jun 20182,514
May 20181,853
Apr 20181,794
Mar 20181,830
Feb 20183,003
Jan 20182,135
Dec 20171,349
Nov 20172,258
Oct 20172,511
Sept 20172,929
Aug 20174,320
Jul 20173,763
Jun 20173,740
May 20173,164
Apr 20172,898
Mar 20172,778
Feb 20172,206
Jan 20172,147
Is there a shortage of carpenters?
Not high

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsUsual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Note: uncertainty in hours and earnings due to proportion of self employed workers.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
42%against 27% for all jobs
DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London945
Birmingham133
Manchester104
City of Edinburgh92
Bristol, City of92
Glasgow City85
Leeds77
Oxford66
Nottingham62
North Yorkshire59
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where carpenters are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 92 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from Philippines, Belize, India, ranking it 102nd of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of carpenters
14%!
21%
22%
19%
19%
6.5%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–2414% (small sample)
25–3421%
35–4422%
45–5419%
55–6419%
65+6.5% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!5.3%
Higher education below degree!3.1%
A levels or equivalent54%
GCSEs or equivalent22%
Other qualifications6.6%
No qualifications!5.8%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent5.3% (small sample)
Higher education below degree3.1% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent54%
GCSEs or equivalent22%
Other qualifications6.6%
No qualifications5.8% (small sample)

Main employers: joinery installation (36%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (24%), other specialised construction activities nec (12%), manufacture of other builders' carpentry and joinery (6.3%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
5.3%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
A levels or equivalent
held by 54%
Apprenticeships
3
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
15 months to 2 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds
Self-employed
62%
of people in the job

Routes in

Carpenter

You can get into this job through:

College

You could take a college course like:

  • bench joinery
  • site carpentry
  • T Level in On Site Construction

Courses like these would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need to find a trainee position with a company.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Onsite Trades Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
  • Carpentry and Joinery Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Wood Machinist Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Craft Carpentry and Joinery Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

You could also do a Wood Product Manufacturing Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, producing goods used in the furniture making and construction industries.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More about this route
Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

  • have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • are in care or have been in care
  • are in prison or have been in prison

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Career tips

If you're thinking of changing career to carpentry, look out for short or part-time 'taster' courses at your local college. These are designed to help you find out if carpentry is for you.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a carpenter from Go Construct and House Building Careers.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for carpenter. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Shopfitter

You can get into this job through:

College

You can take a construction course at college to learn some of the skills needed for this job.

Courses include:

  • shopfitting bench joinery
  • construction operations
  • carpentry and joinery
  • T Level in Onsite Construction
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, such as:

  • Fitted Interiors Installer
  • Interior Systems Installer
  • Carpentry and Joinery

These apprenticeships take around 2 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and learning in the classroom.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You may be able to work as a shopfitter's labourer to build up your experience, and apply to join an apprenticeship with your employer's support.

Apply directly

You may be able to apply directly for a job as a shopfitter if you've got experience in one of the construction trades, for example tiling or carpentry and joinery.

Employers may look for some GCSEs in subjects like maths, English, and design and technology.

What you’ll need

  • have a good level of fitness

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you may need a Shopfitting and Interior Contracting Competency Scheme (SICCS) card to work on some jobs
Professional and industry bodies

You could join the National Association of Shopfitters for professional development and to make contacts in the industry.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in shopfitting from Go Construct.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for shopfitter. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

3 for this job
Level 3About 15 months

Craft carpentry and joinery

You gain
BWF approved SiteRight Fire Door Installation Awareness delivered by an NOCN approved…
Employers may ask for
It is expected that anyone starting this apprenticeship will have already achieved the corresponding Level 2 apprenticeship standard in Carpentry and Joinery.
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
Onsite trades foundation apprenticeshipFoundation apprenticeship2
Onsite constructionT Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements
  • selects and measures appropriate wood and cuts, shapes and drills to specification using saws, planes, chisels and other power or hand tools
  • aligns and fixes prepared wood pieces by screwing, nailing, gluing and dowelling to form frames, shop fronts, counter units, decking, theatrical sets, furniture, small wooden craft, scale models and wooden templates
  • checks accuracy of work with square, rule and spirit level
  • maintains and repairs woodwork and fittings

Skills

  • follow health and safety procedures in construction
  • inspect construction supplies
  • interpret 2D plans
  • interpret 3D plans
  • use measurement instruments
  • use safety equipment in construction
  • work ergonomically
  • work in a construction team
  • keep personal administration
  • keep records of work progress
  • process incoming construction supplies
  • install construction profiles
  • maintain work area cleanliness
  • monitor stock level

Knowledge

  • types of wood
  • wood cuts
  • woodworking tools

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for skilled construction and building trades, a group of 12 jobs that includes carpenters.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 1.5%about 14,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 2035374,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.