Qualified Trade Rates
Qualified tradespeople in Australia earn well above the national average, driven by strong demand in residential construction, infrastructure projects, and commercial building. The table below shows typical annual salary ranges for qualified tradies, including base salary and common overtime. Actual earnings vary by state, employer, and whether the worker is employed under an enterprise agreement or the Building and Construction General On-site Award.
| Trade | Salary Range (Annual) |
|---|---|
| Electrician | $80,000 – $110,000 |
| Plumber | $75,000 – $105,000 |
| Carpenter | $70,000 – $95,000 |
| Bricklayer | $70,000 – $90,000 |
| Painter | $65,000 – $85,000 |
| Concreter | $70,000 – $95,000 |
| Boilermaker | $85,000 – $120,000 |
Boilermakers and electricians command the highest rates due to specialised skills and demand from the mining and heavy industry sectors. Self-employed tradies running their own business can earn significantly more — an experienced plumber or electrician with their own client base may gross $150,000–$250,000 per year, though business costs reduce the net figure. See the Average Salary Australia page for broader comparisons.
Apprentice Pay Rates
Apprentice wages in Australia are set as a percentage of the qualified trade rate, increasing each year as the apprentice gains skills and experience. Each award sets its own percentages: the table shows the Electrical award minimums for an apprentice electrician who completed Year 12 (50%, 60%, 70% and 82% if they did not). The Building and Construction General On-site Award sets separate percentages for carpentry and other building apprentices, and many employers and enterprise agreements pay above these minimums. For plumbing, carpentry, automotive, hairdressing and cookery apprentices by year, with a wages calculator, see apprentice pay rates.
| Year | % of Trade Rate | Award minimum, apprentice electrician (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 55% | $35,509 ($17.97/hr) |
| Year 2 | 65% | $41,753 ($21.13/hr) |
| Year 3 | 70% | $44,875 ($22.71/hr) |
| Year 4 | 82% | $52,364 ($26.50/hr) |
Adult Apprentice Rates
Adult apprentices (aged 21 and over) receive higher minimum rates than school-leaver apprentices. Under the Electrical award, for example, an adult apprentice gets 80% of the qualified electrician rate in first year ($25.87/hr) and at least the grade 1 rate from second year ($28.90/hr), instead of the junior apprentice percentages. This recognises that adult apprentices have higher living costs and may have family responsibilities.
Government Incentives
The Australian Government offers incentives to support apprenticeships. The Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System provides payments to eligible employers and apprentices, including priority payments for trades experiencing skills shortages. Apprentices in priority trades may receive $5,000–$10,000 in direct payments over the course of their apprenticeship. Additionally, tools and equipment purchased for an apprenticeship are tax-deductible for the apprentice.
Site Allowances
Construction workers receive various allowances on top of their base rate to compensate for the specific conditions of construction work. These allowances are set out in the Building and Construction General On-site Award and enterprise agreements.
| Allowance | Typical Amount | Paid When |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Allowance | $67.15/week ($53.72 residential) | All on-site construction work (cl 22.1, all purposes) |
| Tool Allowance | $41.22/week (carpenter) | Set per trade in cl 21.1; carpenters and joiners shown |
| Multistorey allowance | $0.77 to $2.24 per hour | Buildings of 5 or more storeys, rising with floor level (cl 23.3(e)) |
| Confined Space | Per hour, set by the award | Working in confined spaces |
| Travel / Fares | Per day, set by the award | Travelling to site beyond set distance |
| First Aid | Per day, set by the award | Designated first aid officer |
On major commercial and infrastructure projects, enterprise agreement site allowances can be significantly higher than the award amounts. All allowances are treated as ordinary income for tax purposes. Check the Award Rates Guide for more details on construction award provisions.
Overtime in Construction
Overtime is a significant component of construction worker earnings. The Building and Construction General On-site Award sets the following overtime provisions (the hourly rate for every CW/ECW level, with the industry allowance built in, is on our Building and Construction Award rates page):
- Monday to Friday: Time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours beyond ordinary hours (7.6 hours/day or 38 hours/week), then double time thereafter.
- Saturday: Time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours, then double time for all subsequent hours. A minimum 3-hour engagement applies.
- Sunday: Double time for all hours worked. A minimum 3-hour engagement applies.
- Public Holidays: Double time and a half (2.5x) for all hours worked, with a minimum 4-hour engagement.
A qualified carpenter earning $40/hr base rate who works 5 hours of overtime on a Saturday earns: 2 hours at $60/hr + 3 hours at $80/hr = $360 for the Saturday shift alone. Regular Saturday work adds up quickly over a year. Use the Overtime Pay Calculator to model your exact overtime earnings.
Take-Home Pay Examples
Below are take-home pay estimates for common construction and trades roles in FY2026-27, including typical allowances but excluding overtime (LITO and Medicare levy applied, no HECS):
| Role | Gross Annual | Tax + Medicare | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painter | $75,000 | $14,520 | $60,480 |
| Carpenter | $85,000 | $17,720 | $67,280 |
| Electrician | $95,000 | $20,920 | $74,080 |
| Boilermaker | $105,000 | $24,120 | $80,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How this guide works▼
Construction and trades salary data is compiled from ABS average weekly earnings for the construction industry, Fair Work Commission pay guides for the Building and Construction General On-site Award, and published enterprise agreement rates. Salary ranges represent total annual earnings including base rate and typical allowances, but excluding overtime. Tax calculations use ATO marginal rates for FY2026-27 including the 2% Medicare levy.
Sources & References
- 1Building and Construction General On-site Award— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 2Construction industry earnings— Australian Bureau of Statistics
Last verified: 9 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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