Carpentry can be an enjoyable and profitable profession. Here are seven reasons why it may just be the ideal career for you.
Benefits of Being a Carpenter
1. You can choose from a range of different carpentry specialisations
There are around 130,000 carpenters in Australia[1] according to government figures. Despite this figure, they all do completely diverse tasks.
After completing your carpentry training, you can choose from a variety of specialisations in the building business, including the following:
- Residential: Installs framing, staircases, decks, and roofs in homes and apartment buildings.
- Commercial: Installs floors, ceilings, and windows in shopping malls, hotels, offices, and mixed-use buildings.
- Industrial: Builds infrastructure, roadways, manufacturing plans, and tunnels by constructing scaffolding and other needs.
- Joinery: Creates wood goods such as cabinets, windows, and doors in a workshop.
- Woodworking: moulding wood and applying varnish to create, repair, or maintain timber objects such as furniture or antiques.
There are numerous options for carpentry careers, meaning you are sure to find something that is aligned with your passion and skills.
2. Carpentry isn’t a desk job
If the prospect of sitting at a desk all day staring at a computer makes you run for the hills, carpentry may be for you.
This job requires you to work with your hands, in a variety of environments from workshops to construction sites outdoors and everywhere in between!
As a carpenter, you’ll be physically active, possibly outside in the fresh air, and no two days will be alike.
3. Carpentry pays well
Carpentry is a skilled trade that is a step up from unskilled labour and other low-wage jobs.
As a trained carpenter, you can earn a fair living that can increase as your skills and experience expand.
On average, Australia-based carpenters earn around $78,000 per year[2].
4. How much are carpenters in demand?
If you were concerned about the building industry following COVID-19, the news for builders and tradies isn’t so grim.
The need for carpentry as a trade in the future is bright, with the industry expanding at a rapid rate. This demand creates an opportunity of employment security and a long-term career with this rate of growth.
5. Is carpentry a difficult job to learn?
Compared to other careers, there are less hoops to jump through to get started as a carpenter.
You’ll begin your carpentry career by earning a Certificate III in Carpentry. There are no prerequisites for this course, except that you must be 16 years old or older and obtain a WHS Induction Training (White Card) before starting your apprenticeship.
6. How much does a carpenter apprentice make?
There aren’t many jobs where you can make money while you’re learning the ropes. However, when you study carpentry courses like the Cert III, you will also be doing your carpentry apprenticeship.
You will be paid a full-time wage commensurate with your skill level during your apprenticeship. This will give you financial stability while you complete your apprenticeship.
7. As a carpenter, what do you construct?
Because carpentry plays a key role in the construction sector, many people choose to take carpentry courses before pursuing more ambitious goals like owning their own business or becoming a licensed builder.
You can do your Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) after you have completed your Cert III in carpentry and gained some on the job experience through your apprenticeship (CPC40120). This will help you obtain your construction permit and will prepare you to construct low-rise structures.
You could also pursue a Diploma in Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50220), which will qualify you to construct medium-rise structures. This diploma ensures your acceptance into a Victoria University bachelor’s degree program when you study with Builders Academy Australia.
Is a career as a carpenter right for me?
The advantages of a career in carpentry are clear. Carpentry can be your entry point into various broader roles in the construction industry in a variety of sectors, from residential to commercial, and from private to public.
With the construction industry booming, carpentry offers hands-on work, a steady income, and stable job security, while also offering variety. No two days will ever be the same.
Get your carpentry insurance* sorted without fuss with BizCover. While you are busy laying the groundwork for your new business, let us do the shopping around for you, saving you time when it comes to comparing your business insurance options. Go online or give us a call on 1300 920 864 to see how we can help protect your carpentry business.
[1] Australian Government Job Outlook, ‘Carpenters and Joiners’- https://joboutlook.gov.au/occupations/carpenters-and-joiners?occupationCode=3312 Accessed May 2022
[2] Talent.com, ‘Carpenter average salary in Australia 2023’- https://au.talent.com/salary?job=carpenter Accessed December 2023
*This information is general only and does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be relied upon as advice. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording.
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