Plumber vs Carpenter Salary

Side-by-side comparison of Plumber and Carpenter pay after tax in the UK.

Plumber
£36,000
gross per year
£2,453/mo
take home
vs
Carpenter
£33,000
gross per year
£2,273/mo
take home
Income tax-£4,686
Income tax-£4,086
National Insurance-£1,874
National Insurance-£1,634
Take home yearly£29,440
Take home yearly£27,280

The Difference

A Plumber earns £3,000 more per year before tax. After tax, the difference is £2,160/year or £180/month.

See full breakdowns: Plumber salary · Carpenter salary

Training and Qualification Comparison

Plumber: 2-4 years (apprenticeship + NVQ). Average salary: £33,000/year.

Carpenter: 2-4 years (apprenticeship + NVQ). Average salary: £30,000/year.

Pension and Benefits

Plumbers typically receive: Varies (often personal pension). Carpenters typically receive: Varies (often personal pension). Pension benefits can add 15-30% to the effective value of a salary, making them an important factor when comparing career options. Public sector pensions (NHS, Teachers', Police) are generally more generous than most private sector equivalents.

Which Career Pays More Long-Term?

Plumbers earn approximately £3,000/year more than carpenters on average. However, salary should be considered alongside training costs, time to qualification, pension value, and career progression potential. See detailed breakdowns: Plumber salary and Carpenter salary.

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