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Most people think carpentry is just sawdust and sweat-low pay, hard hands, and a pension you hope you live long enough to collect. But that’s not the whole story. In 2026, skilled carpenters in the UK are regularly clearing six figures. Not the lucky few. Not the ones who inherited a business. Regular, hardworking tradespeople-some with just a Level 2 NVQ-making £100,000+ a year. And it’s not magic. It’s strategy.
How a Carpenter Hits Six Figures
Let’s break it down. To make £100,000 in a year, you need to earn about £8,333 per month. That’s not impossible if you work 45 hours a week at £25 an hour-that’s only £56,250. So where does the rest come from?
The answer isn’t overtime. It’s value.
Most carpenters charge by the hour. Top earners charge by the project. A standard kitchen fit might take a junior carpenter 3 weeks at £25/hour: £3,000. A pro who owns a small team, does custom cabinetry, and handles the client directly? They charge £12,000. Same job. Different mindset.
One carpenter in Bristol I spoke with-call him Mark-started as a site labourer. He didn’t go to university. He did a 2-year NVQ, then spent 5 years working for others. At 30, he started his own company: Mark’s Custom Joinery. He didn’t advertise on Facebook. He didn’t use Trustpilot. He built three show homes for luxury developers in the Cotswolds. Word spread. Now he books jobs 6 months out. His average job? £18,000. He does 7 a year. That’s £126,000. He doesn’t work weekends. He takes August off.
It’s Not About Tools-It’s About Positioning
There are 140,000 carpenters in the UK. Only about 5% make over £80,000. What separates them?
It’s not the power tools. It’s the niche.
Carpet fitters don’t make six figures. Tilers don’t either. But carpenters who specialise in high-end custom joinery, heritage restoration, or luxury bathroom installations? They do. Why? Because those clients don’t shop on eBay. They don’t want the cheapest. They want quality, trust, and precision.
Think about it: a £50,000 bespoke staircase isn’t bought because it’s cheap. It’s bought because it’s the only one that fits the space, matches the period, and looks like it was carved by hand (even if it’s CNC-cut). That’s where the profit lives.
One carpenter in Cheltenham focuses only on period homes built before 1920. He doesn’t do kitchens. He doesn’t do extensions. He does staircases, panelling, and window restoration. His clients are estate owners, architects, and heritage trusts. He charges £2,500 a day. Works 180 days a year. That’s £450,000. He hires two apprentices. They earn £35,000. He takes £250,000 net.
The Hidden Skills No One Talks About
Most carpentry courses teach you how to cut a tenon. Few teach you how to sell one.
To make six figures, you need three non-carpentry skills:
- Client communication-knowing how to explain why your quote is £15,000 and not £8,000. Most clients don’t understand craftsmanship. You have to show it.
- Project management-juggling materials, subcontractors, and deadlines without losing your mind. A job that runs over by two weeks costs you £3,000 in lost time and penalties.
- Marketing without ads-building a portfolio, getting featured in Period Living or House & Garden, and letting your work speak for you.
One carpenter in Bath started posting before-and-after photos of restored fireplaces on Instagram. No captions. Just photos. In 18 months, he got 12,000 followers. Five clients contacted him directly. One led to a £72,000 contract to restore an entire Georgian townhouse. He didn’t pay for a single ad.
Real Numbers: What Carpentry Pays in 2026
Here’s what you can actually expect, based on recent surveys from the CITB and trade associations:
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate | Annual Income (45 hrs/week) | Path to Six Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | £12-£16 | £25,000-£33,000 | Train for NVQ Level 2+3 |
| Site Carpenter | £18-£25 | £38,000-£52,000 | Move into joinery or management |
| Senior Joiner | £25-£35 | £52,000-£73,000 | Specialise in high-end work |
| Self-Employed Specialist | £40-£80/hour (project-based) | £80,000-£150,000+ | Build reputation, niche focus, team |
| Business Owner (3+ staff) | Varies | £100,000-£250,000+ | Scale with systems, not sweat |
Notice the jump from £52k to £80k? That’s not about working harder. It’s about changing your business model.
Who Doesn’t Make Six Figures? (And Why)
Not every carpenter can-or should-aim for six figures. Some don’t want to. Some can’t. Here’s who usually gets stuck:
- Hourly-only workers-They trade time for money. No matter how fast they are, they hit a ceiling.
- Generalists-Doing everything from sheds to kitchens means they’re competing with every other carpenter on price.
- Those who avoid marketing-If your only client is your mate’s brother-in-law, you’re not scaling.
- People who fear pricing-Charging £12,000 for a job feels scary. But charging £6,000 and working twice as hard doesn’t get you closer to six figures.
One guy I met in Reading had 22 years’ experience. He still worked for a builder who paid him £22/hour. He was good. But he never asked for more. He didn’t know how to say, “I’m not just a pair of hands. I’m the reason this house sells for £750,000.”
How to Get There-Step by Step
If you’re serious about hitting six figures, here’s how:
- Master your craft-Get your NVQ Level 2 and 3. Don’t skip it. Employers and clients trust certified work.
- Specialise-Pick one thing: kitchens, staircases, built-in wardrobes, heritage restoration. Become the go-to person for that.
- Build a portfolio-Take photos. Don’t wait for permission. Even if it’s your own house, document the process.
- Start small as self-employed-Don’t quit your job. Do one job a month on the side. Keep track of profit, not just income.
- Charge by project-Stop quoting hourly. Estimate the job, add your profit, and say the price. Clients respect confidence.
- Network with architects and interior designers-They’re the ones who hire carpenters for luxury jobs. Go to trade shows. Say hello. Bring your portfolio.
- Learn basic business-How to invoice, how to pay taxes, how to use accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero. You’re not just a carpenter anymore. You’re a business owner.
One carpenter in Cornwall did exactly this. He started by doing one custom bookshelf a month for friends. Within 18 months, he was doing 12 high-end pieces a month. He hired a part-time assistant. He now runs a workshop with two apprentices. His annual turnover? £142,000.
Is It Worth It?
Yes-if you want control. If you want to set your own hours. If you want to be paid for your skill, not your time.
But it’s not easy. It takes years. It takes patience. It takes learning how to sell, not just saw.
Most people who try this fail because they expect it to happen fast. It doesn’t. The carpenter who made £100,000 last year didn’t wake up one day with a six-figure income. He spent 8 years building the right reputation, the right skills, and the right clients.
There’s no shortcut. But there is a path. And it’s paved with sawdust, precision, and a whole lot of confidence.
Can a carpenter really make £100,000 a year without owning a company?
It’s extremely rare. Most carpenters who earn six figures are either self-employed or run small teams. Working as an employee for someone else limits your earning potential to hourly wages or capped salaries. Even the most skilled site carpenter rarely earns more than £70,000 unless they move into management or specialist roles with premium clients.
Do I need a degree to make six figures as a carpenter?
No. A degree isn’t required. What matters is NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Carpentry and Joinery, plus hands-on experience. Many top earners never went to university. What they did do is invest in certifications, apprenticeships, and ongoing training-like mastering CNC machining or heritage restoration techniques.
How long does it take to reach six figures in carpentry?
Typically 7-10 years. The first 2-3 years are about learning the trade. Years 4-6 are about building reputation and specialising. Years 7-10 are when most start scaling-hiring help, raising prices, and landing premium clients. There are exceptions, but they’re rare.
Is carpentry a good career for someone in their 30s?
Absolutely. Many top carpenters start in their late 20s or early 30s after working in other fields. The trade values skill over age. If you’re willing to learn, work hard, and build a reputation, your age is an advantage-you bring life experience, reliability, and professionalism that younger workers often lack.
What’s the biggest mistake carpenters make when trying to earn more?
Undercharging. Most carpenters price their work based on how long it takes them, not how much value they deliver. A custom oak staircase might take 60 hours to build, but if it adds £25,000 to a home’s value, charging £2,000 is a mistake. Charge based on outcome, not hours.
Do I need to be good with computers to make six figures?
Not an expert, but yes-you need basic digital skills. You’ll need to send quotes via email, use WhatsApp to update clients, post photos on Instagram, and maybe use simple design software like SketchUp to show clients what you’re building. You don’t need to code. But you can’t ignore technology anymore.
Final Thought
Carpet fitters don’t make six figures. Electricians sometimes do. Carpenters? They can-easily-if they stop thinking like workers and start thinking like business owners. The tools haven’t changed. The market has. The ones winning now aren’t the strongest or the fastest. They’re the ones who learned how to charge for what they’re worth.
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