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Pay level and collective agreement terms for carpenters and joiners

In Denmark, pay conditions are established through collective agreements or individual agreements between companies and employees. On this page you can see the pay levels and agreement terms and conditions for carpenters and joiners.

The pay of individual employees varies and depends on factors such as performance, skills, experience and in some cases piecework and bonus agreements. Other factors are the company's profile, geographical location, etc.

The chart below shows hourly earnings for carpenters/joiners who are employed as ordinary employees. Apprentices, young workers (< 18 years), managers, and employees with special responsibilities are not included.

The group includes individuals who perform a wide range of construction work related to the finishing of buildings, including general carpentry and joinery, but also, for example, roofing, flooring and glazing.

Earnings per hour worked for carpenters and joiners

Bar chart of the dispersion in earning per hour worked for carpenters and joiners, and share of employees as a percentage
Source: Confederation of Danish Employers 2022. carpenters and joiners are calculated on the basis of work function (DISCO) = 711510: carpenters and joiners, construction industry

See the bar chart "Earnings per hour worked for carpenters and joiners" in a larger scale

The chart shows that a quarter of employees receive an overall payment of less than DKK 261,48 per hour worked. The median is DKK 287,35. The most highly paid quarter receive an overall payment of more than DKK 323,94.

Some employees receive significantly less and others significantly more than the figures mentioned.

The average is DKK 300,84 per hour worked

What do earnings per hour worked consist of?

Earnings per hour worked is the overall amount that Danish employers pay for 1 hour of work. The payment includes all pay elements, including the agreed hourly wage and fixed and variable supplements, bank holidays (public holidays, which fall on a weekday), holiday and absence payments, and pensions. Absence payments are distributed across the hours worked.

Supplements for overtime and other nuisance compensation are not included.

Remuneration of posted employees must take place within the framework of EU law.

Pay elements of the Building Agreement

The salaries shown reflect the individual and collective agreements which have been entered into between companies and employees. The leading collective agreement for carpenters and joiners is the Building Agreement between DI (Confederation of Danish Industry) and 3F (United Federation of Workers in Denmark).

The summary below shows the pay elements which form the basis for earnings, excluding nuisance compensation, for employees covered by the Building Agreement:

  • Minimum wage agreement. The agreement contains a minimum rate below which the basic wage must not fall.
  • Personal and locally negotiated pay supplements.
  • Employer-paid pension contributions: 8 %.
  • Additional holiday entitlement, payment for public holidays or free choice: 12.90%. From 1 March 2024: 14,70%.
  • Health insurance scheme 0.15 %.
  • Right to wages during periods of illness and maternity leave, etc. under certain conditions
  • Piecework pay options
  • In addition to the agreement-based pay elements, the legislation prescribes a holiday payment of 12.5 %.

Builing Agreement 2023-2025

Pay elements of the Wood and Furniture Agreement

Another collective agreement for carpentry and joinery is the Wood and Furniture Agreement between DI (Confederation of Danish Industry) and 3F (United Federation of Workers in Denmark).

The summary below shows the pay elements which form the basis for earnings, excluding nuisance compensation, for employees covered by the agreement in question:

  • Minimum wage agreement. The agreement contains a minimum rate below which the basic wage must not fall.
  • Personal and locally negotiated pay supplements
  • Employer-paid pension contributions: 8 %.
  • Additional holiday entitlement and payment for public holidays: 7%. From 1 March 2024: 9%;
  • Free choice scheme: 6 %.
  • Right to wages during periods of illness and maternity leave, etc. under certain conditions
  • Piecework pay options
  • In addition to the elements mentioned, the agreement contains provisions on nuisance compensation, which goes over and above the pay shown. Please refer to the provisions of the collective agreement.
  • In addition to the agreement-based pay elements, the legislation prescribes a holiday payment of 12.5 %.

Wood and Furniture Agreement 2020-2032 (in Danish)

Any Questions?

Please contact the Danish main organisations:

The Confederation of Danish Employers
Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening (DA)
Telephone: +45 33 38 90 00
Email: da@da.dk

Danish Trade Union Confederation
Fagbevægelsens Hovedorganisation (FH)
Telephone: +45 35 24 60 00
Email: fh@fho.dk

Last updated: 20-02-2024