macker

Hi,

We are waiting to hear back results from the TRA and just wondering what the average wage is for carpenters/joiners in Perth? What areas seems to be booming with building work? North or south or city? We know thats theres plenty of work at the mo but trying to get a feel for which neck of the woods to concentrate on as far as work goes and of course settling in. Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Clippy

Hello

My husband is also a Carpenter and we are heading for Perth - to be honest I kind of gather the rate of pay is more or less the same as here, I haven't been yet so can only go on what I've been told. I hear there's plenty of work for chippies, especially as the property market is doing so well at the moment. I can't help with any of the areas, I understand there's quite a bit of work about wherever you go but then I guess until you get there who knows!

Anyway, if there's anything else I can help you with let me know. Whereabouts are you from?

Kath

macker

Hi Kath,

Thanks for that. We are in Dublin. We have not been yet either so difficult to pin down an area to set out sights on.

Clippy

It's really hard isn't it. Well we're off for our reccie in June, so we'll be having a look at the job situation then probably and I'll post a report when I get back on here

macker

That would be great Kath, send me a pm if you remember! Have a great recce.

Clippy

Yep no probs

Actually if you do a search for the word 'Carpenter' on her you should bring up quite a few threads on wages - I know I've asked the question before.

Let me know how you get on with your TRA.

Kath

miamunchkin

Hi,

We're in Perth already - my partner is a carpenter. The wages appear to be pretty below avergae unless you are prepared to travel out into the middle of nowhere, which seems to be on a par with wages back home. It's certainly worse than the UK

Clippy

Does he do the same hours as before? Is he self employed?

Macker I've found an old thread of mine about chippies

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ight=carpenter

pukka pom

Hiya - we're off to the Sunny Coast and my partner is a chippie, expect to earn less wherever you are in Australia, you'll be lucky to match UK wages, we've been told by quite a few that you can expect to get anything from $15- $25 an hour maybe a couple of dollers more if your lucky!

Sally

miamunchkin

He does more hours than before. Not self employed, working for a firm in a workshop. Unless you go out to the mines, you won't get nearly the same money here.

Clippy

Is he on the bench? Would he not get more money working for himself?

miamunchkin

Yeah, he's on the bench. Maybe he'd get a bit more working for himself but it's not an option at the moment as we're still on a working holiday visa til out perm visa comes throiugh. Everyone is so sceptical over here cos everyone seems to rip customers off, trade wise. It's a bit of a nightmare. There's guys who have worked in the shop for 10 years + only getting $20 per hour

Clippy

Hmm, from what I've heard you can earn fairly decent wages if you work for yourself as there's such a demand for the trade - I'm not there though and you are so obviously you'd know more!

My husband used to work on the bench years ago but it didn't pay as well as what he does on site now. He's planning on working for someone for a bit when he gets over there, just to get to know the ropes in Oz, then working for himself. Someone told me that chippies that will do roofing can earn a good wage

miamunchkin

Roofing will earn you mega bucks but will also earn you mega burns - it's danger money and no-one wants to do it. They can't get any roofing apprentices at all.

We scan the ads all the time to see if there's anything better going but everything's the same.

A guy I work with researched carpenters/joiners for ages to get a new kitchen - no-one would answer his calls cos they have the pick of customers and when he did get someone, they took $500 off him and haven't been since

Clippy

See that's what I don't understand - if there's such a demand surely the job should pay well.

Couldn't your husband have done the work for him and earnt some extra cash?