SOC 2020 · 5316
Carpenters and joiners
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations from
Skilled Worker
Shortage list only
Below the usual skill level, but listed.
Salary floor
£41,700
The general threshold, £41,700, is the higher of the two.
Shortage lists
Immigration Salary List
Listed roles carry their own restrictions — check GOV.UK.
Shortage list conditions
Immigration Salary List: all jobs. Listed until 31 Dec 2026.
Shortage-list jobs are below the usual skill level, so employers face restrictions such as no dependants and no salary discount. Check GOV.UK for the current conditions.
Salary the job must pay
A Skilled Worker job must pay at least the higher of the general threshold and the going rate for its occupation code.
Going rate (standard)
£33,400
General threshold
£41,700
Visa thresholds from
Minimum for this role
£41,700
Home Office going rates from
New entrants and some other cases can use 70% of the going rate, £33,400, subject to the lower general threshold of £33,400.
What this occupation actually pays
ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, full-time gross annual pay.
- UK pay for this occupation
- Going rate£33,400
- General threshold£41,700
View these figures as a table
| Percentile | Pay |
|---|---|
| 10th | £23,458 |
| 25th | £28,900 |
| 50th | £34,014 |
| 75th | £40,477 |
| Going rate | £33,400 |
| General threshold | £41,700 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | £23,458 | £28,900 | £34,014 | £40,477 | — |
| East 2025 | — | — | £34,244 | — | — |
| East Midlands 2025 | — | — | £29,395 | — | — |
| London 2025 | — | — | £38,011 | — | — |
| North East 2025 | — | — | £34,985 | — |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
Carpenters and joiners construct, erect, install and repair wooden structures and fittings used in internal and external frameworks and cut, shape, fit and assemble wood to make templates, jigs, scale models and scenic equipment for theatres.
Typical tasks
examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements
selects and measures appropriate wood and cuts, shapes and drills to specification using saws, planes, chisels and other power or hand tools
aligns and fixes prepared wood pieces by screwing, nailing, gluing and dowelling to form frames, shop fronts, counter units, decking, theatrical sets, furniture, small wooden craft, scale models and wooden templates
checks accuracy of work with square, rule and spirit level
maintains and repairs woodwork and fittings
Entry routes and qualifications
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though GCSEs/S grades are advantageous. Entry is typically through an approved apprenticeship programme or college course in conjunction with on-the-job training, leading to a NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 qualification, or through building up work experience supplemented with short courses.