Carpenter Pay UK 2026/27
Carpenter pay varies by work type, with specialist second-fix and bespoke finish work usually commanding higher rates than basic first-fix tasks. Self-employed earnings are strongest in high-demand refurbishment markets.
At a Glance
- Apprentice Carpenter£1,373 / moof £18,000 gross a year
- Qualified Carpenter (NVQ Level 2/3)£2,333 / moof £34,000 gross a year
- Highly Experienced / Specialist / Self-employed£3,053 / moof £46,000 gross a year
Carpenters and joiners represent one of the UK's largest construction trades, with CITB data indicating around 200,000 practitioners.
First-fix structural work and second-fix finishing work attract different rates, and second-fix joinery or bespoke cabinet work typically pays more due to precision and finish standards.
Self-employed carpenters in London and the South East can build stronger earnings through refurbishment projects where high-quality finishing supports premium day rates.
Carpenter Salary Breakdown UK 2026/27
The table below shows typical carpenter salaries across experience levels and regions, alongside estimated take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance. Click any gross salary figure to open it in the calculator.
Income Tax and National Insurance in 2026/27
Like all UK workers, carpenters salaries are subject to income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. In the 2026/27 tax year:
| Up to £12,570 | 0% (Personal Allowance) |
| £12,571 – £50,270 | 20% (Basic Rate) |
| £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% (Higher Rate) |
| Above £125,140 | 45% (Additional Rate) |
| Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| £12,570 – £50,270 | 8% |
| Above £50,270 | 2% |
| - | - |
Use the calculator above to see your exact take-home pay after all deductions, including pension contributions and student loan repayments if applicable.
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Pension, region, student loan, State Pension age
Explore your finances
Model your expenses, project your wealth, and find your path to financial independence, using the pay figures above.
Financial independence
- In today's money, you'll have at least £21,600 / year (£1,800 / month) when you retire at 66 - just from your savings
- In real terms, that's £38,340 / year (£3,195 / month)
- That means all your outgoings are covered without having to make any further contributions!
- All your expenses are covered for your retirement, but your wealth may start to decrease towards old age
Where your £2,852 a month goes
- Essentials£1,750
- Everything else£500
- Tax and NI£460
- Pension£142
- Left to invest in your ISA£0
Projected wealth
Estimated income over 50 years, in today's money, with a 5% annual return and 0.35% yearly platform and fund fees.
Projected pension
Your pension pot over 31 years at three growth rates, after 0.35% fees, in today's money.
Calculations
- FI Target = Annual outgoings (£21,600) * Years needed for 4.00% SWR (25.00) = £540,000
- Invested annual pension = £2,720
- Invested annual surplus = £0
- Inflation of 2.5% / year
- Assumes New State Pension, payments increasing with inflation (2.5% / year)
- Assumes student loans last 30 years max
- Assumes a flex-drawdown pension for illustration purposes
- Assumes you draw down pension up to the higher rate bracket (£50,270), then draw down your S&S ISA
- Pension lump sums are not included