Carpenters and joiners salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£33,797
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 93% of Carpenters work full-time
- 62% are self-employed
- 95.3% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Carpenters and joiners pay in the UK
The typical carpenters and joiners in the UK earns a median salary of £33,797 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of carpenters and joiners earnings fall between £27,860 and £40,043 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced carpenters and joiners.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £36,363. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical carpenters and joiners actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 62% of Carpenters are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: carpenters and joiners pay ranges from £28,888 in East Midlands up to £37,899 in London, a difference of £9,011 (31%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see carpenters and joiners pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for carpenters and joiners at £37,899 — 12% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £28,888.
UK median £33,797
| Region | Median payUK median £33,797 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £37,899 | £37,899 | £37,022 | +12% |
| South West | £36,481 | £36,481 | £47,074 | +8% |
| North East | £34,950 | £34,950 | £37,854 | +3% |
| South East | £34,819 | £34,819 | £43,640 | +3% |
| East of England | £34,244 | £34,244 | £34,791 | +1% |
| Scotland | £33,696 | £33,696 | £35,560 | ±0% |
| North West | £33,346 | £33,346 | £32,714 | -1% |
| West Midlands | £32,789 | £32,789 | £34,953 | -3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £30,324 | £30,324 | £32,577 | -10% |
| Wales | £29,662 | £29,662 | £30,278 | -12% |
| East Midlands | £28,888 | £28,888 | £30,084 | -15% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £37,899 | £37,899Mean £37,022 | +12% |
| South West £36,481 | £36,481Mean £47,074 | +8% |
| North East £34,950 | £34,950Mean £37,854 | +3% |
| South East £34,819 | £34,819Mean £43,640 | +3% |
| East of England £34,244 | £34,244Mean £34,791 | +1% |
| Scotland £33,696 | £33,696Mean £35,560 | ±0% |
| North West £33,346 | £33,346Mean £32,714 | -1% |
| West Midlands £32,789 | £32,789Mean £34,953 | -3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £30,324 | £30,324Mean £32,577 | -10% |
| Wales £29,662 | £29,662Mean £30,278 | -12% |
| East Midlands £28,888 | £28,888Mean £30,084 | -15% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£33,797); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local carpenters and joiners pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow carpenters and joiners pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for carpenters and joiners by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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