Compare routes: Carpenter or joiner

Compare what matters before you decide. Routes are shown side by side, not ranked: an unknown is marked “Not enough data”.

Choose 2 or 3 routes

Route A: Carpentry and joinery apprenticeship (Level 2, then Level 3)
Route B: College course or T Level, then a trainee job
Route C: Career change: taster course, site card, then an adult apprenticeship or labouring job

Comparing 3 routes. Nothing here is ranked or scored.

Comparison of 3 routes. Unknown values are marked Not enough data and are not ranked.
Route	Route ACarpentry and joinery apprenticeship (Level 2, then Level 3)	Route BCollege course or T Level, then a trainee job	Route CCareer change: taster course, site card, then an adult apprenticeship or labouring job
Entry requirements	You apply for an apprenticeship job; each employer sets its own requirements The National Careers Service says Level 2 apprenticeships usually ask for some GCSEs, usually including English and maths You need a CSCS card or equivalent to work on site — the apprentice card is free	Entry requirements vary by course For the T Level in On Site Construction, the National Careers Service suggests 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, including English and maths You need a CSCS card or equivalent to work on most sites	No specific qualifications for a labouring role, but you need the right CSCS card for site work A green CSCS labourer card needs the CITB test plus the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment (or a recognised alternative) Apprenticeships are open to adults
Official mandatory credentials	None required by law for most jobs.	None required by law for most jobs.	None required by law for most jobs.
Time	About 24 months, or 39 with Level 3 Find apprenticeship training lists Carpentry and joinery (Level 2) at 24 months and Craft carpentry and joinery (Level 3) at 15 months.	2 years at college, then on-the-job experience A T Level is a 2-year course. College courses teach some of the skills; you then need experience at work.	About 2 years through an adult apprenticeship Find apprenticeship training lists Carpentry and joinery (Level 2) at 24 months. Learning informally on the job has no set length.
Cash costs	Fees charged: Up to £26,000 of training (funding band maximum), paid for you Paid up front by you: £0 — training and assessment are funded	Fees charged: At least £60 Paid up front by you: At least £60 Not included: Set by each college; you may not pay tuition if you are under 24 and on your first GCSE- or A level-standard qualification	Fees charged: At least £60 Paid up front by you: At least £60 Not included: Set by each training provider; only needed for a labourer card, not if you go straight onto an apprenticeship
Employer-funded possibilities	Yes — training and assessment are paid by the employer and government; you must not be asked to contribute.	Possible but not guaranteed — some employers pay fees or give study leave. Ask before you accept an offer.	Possible but not guaranteed — some employers pay fees or give study leave. Ask before you accept an offer.
Work while studying	Yes Work-based, with at least 20% off-the-job training. From day one — apprentices are employees and are paid a wage.	Possible Full-time college, then work. Usually after college, once you start a trainee job or apprenticeship.	Yes Work-based. From your first labouring job or apprenticeship, though entry pay may be less than your current job.
Salary evidence	Carpenter: £24,000 to £40,000 a year (starter to experienced, England) National Careers Service, checked 14 Oct 2026. Typical range for comparable roles — indicative, not guaranteed.	Carpenter: £24,000 to £40,000 a year (starter to experienced, England) National Careers Service, checked 14 Oct 2026. Typical range for comparable roles — indicative, not guaranteed.	Carpenter: £24,000 to £40,000 a year (starter to experienced, England) National Careers Service, checked 14 Oct 2026. Typical range for comparable roles — indicative, not guaranteed.
Competition and availability	Apprenticeship places vary by region and with building activity Site work can mean travel and outdoor work in all weather	College courses teach some of the skills; employers still look for site or workshop experience Trainee roles vary by region and with building activity	Adult apprenticeships depend on finding an employer willing to train you Entry roles can pay less than an established job elsewhere
Geographical constraints	Applies in: England (site cards UK-wide) Apprenticeship funding rules shown are for England Moving region changes which employers are near you	Applies in: England (site cards UK-wide)	Applies in: England (site cards UK-wide)
Alternative exits	You could stop after Level 2 and work as a site carpenter or architectural joiner You could specialise in shopfitting, stairs or bespoke furniture You could move into site supervision later	You could move onto an apprenticeship after college You could work in a joinery workshop or for a shopfitter You could move into other construction trades	You could stay in general building work You could move into another construction trade You could return to your previous field with practical skills
Source freshness	Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 Oldest source check: 12 Oct 2026	Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 Oldest source check: 14 Oct 2026	Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 Oldest source check: 12 Oct 2026

Costs are published fees only (lower and upper ends of official ranges). To change assumptions such as funding, loans, pay or living costs, use Compare costs.

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