Carpenter

Typical Salary

£16,000 To £40,000

Typical Hours

40 to 45 a week

evenings / weekends occasionally

How To Become a Carpenter

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You could take a college course like:

Level 2 Diploma in Bench Joinery
Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could do an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery. There are 2 options:

site carpenter
architectural joiner

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

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

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of building and construction
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
knowledge of maths
the ability to work well with others
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
the ability to work on your own
sensitivity and understanding
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Depending on where you work, your day-to-day tasks may include:

discussing plans and following instructions
cutting and shaping timber for floorboards, doors, skirting boards and window frames
making and fitting wooden structures like staircases, door frames, roof timbers and partition walls
making and assembling fitted and free-standing furniture
installing kitchens, cupboards and shelving
building temporary wooden supports to hold setting concrete in place (shuttering)
making and fitting interiors in shops, bars, restaurants, offices and public buildings
constructing stage sets for theatre, film and TV productions

Working Environment

You could work in a workshop, at a client's business, on a construction site or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be you'll travel often, outdoors in all weathers, cramped, dusty and at height.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could become a team leader or project manager.

You could also move into construction estimating and contracts management, or specialise in areas like stage sets or heritage restoration.

You could also start your own business or move into training.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Registration

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

Further information

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

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.