Carpentry and Joinery
Careers Explorer:
A skilled craftsman – Carpenters and Joiners make and install wooden fixtures and fittings as part of construction projects.
Overview
A career in advanced carpentry and joinery will see you create and install building components.
Primarily you’ll work with timber to make and install wooden fixtures and fittings as part of construction projects.
From staircases and doors to supporting frames for bridges and dams, you’ll use your skills to carry out complex and non-standard work including curved products, irregular joins and bespoke work.
You could work in new builds or in the renovation, restoration and alteration of existing buildings and structures.
Top 5 Tasks
- Measure, mark, cut, shape, fit and finish timber – either by hand or with power tools
- Install floor joists, floorboards, roof trusses and wall partitions
- Work on a construction site or in a workshop to create complex components
- Have an excellent understanding of different types of wood and their uses
- Use and understand technical drawings.
Salary
Newly trained carpenters can earn around £17,000 – £20,000.
Trained with experience carpenters can earn around £20,000 – £30,000.
Senior, chartered or master carpenters can earn up to £45,000.
Salaries typically depend on location, employer and level of responsibility.
Am I Suited?
- Tteam player
- Keen eye for detail
- Likes working outside
- Practical
- Problem solver
Carpenters and Joiners play a key role in the restoration of historical buildings as part of interesting heritage projects
Qualifications
You don’t need to hold particular qualifications but it’s an advantage to have GCSEs or their equivalent. Subjects such as English, maths, and science would be beneficial.
Employers like to see people with some experience of building sites. A construction apprenticeship with a carpentry or building firm is a good way in. Some colleges and training providers help by introducing potential apprentices to interested employers.
