Carpenter Salary in Denmark 2026: What Do Carpenters Earn?
Carpenters build and fit everything from roof structures to bespoke interiors — and the trade is on Denmark's Positive List for skilled work, opening a work-permit path for non-EU craftsmen with a job offer. The numbers are official standardised earnings.
What does a carpenter earn in Denmark in 2026?
The official number (incl. pension and supplements, full-time equivalent): The standardised monthly earnings average 44,445 DKK/month (DISCO 7115, 15,902 full-time employees, all sectors, 2024 — pulled directly from Statistics Denmark). Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract.
Work permit note: This trade appears on Denmark's official Positive List for skilled work — with a job offer, non-EU citizens can apply for a residence and work permit through the scheme. Lists update every 1 January and 1 July; always check the current list. Source: nyidanmark.dk — The Positive Lists. See also our working in Denmark guide.
The real salary spread — quartiles straight from Statistics Denmark
Averages get pulled up by top earners. The quartiles show where pay actually sits for carpenters (standardised hourly earnings, all sectors, 2024):
| Quartile | Hourly earnings (DST) | Monthly equivalent* |
|---|---|---|
| Lower quartile (25% earn less) | 246.42 DKK | approx. 39,509 DKK |
| Median (the middle salary) | 274.02 DKK | approx. 43,934 DKK |
| Upper quartile (25% earn more) | 305.89 DKK | approx. 49,043 DKK |
Half of all carpenters earn between approx. 39,509 and 49,043 DKK/month. Hourly figures are DST's raw numbers — *monthly figures are OUR calculation (hourly earnings × 160.33, DST's standard month). Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract. Last fact-checked 16 July 2026.
What makes up the salary?
The standardised hourly earnings in this trade (277.21 DKK/hour, 2024) break down like this:
| Component | DKK per hour (DST) | Share* |
|---|---|---|
| Base pay | 236.74 DKK | 85.4% |
| Pension incl. ATP | 30.48 DKK | 11.0% |
| Shift/inconvenience supplements | 1.67 DKK | 0.6% |
| Irregular payments (bonus etc.) | 7.67 DKK | 2.8% |
| Employee benefits | 0.65 DKK | 0.2% |
Hourly figures are DST's raw component numbers — *shares are OUR calculation. Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract. Last fact-checked 16 July 2026.
What moves the pay in this trade?
Piece-rate work (akkord) is the big lever in Danish carpentry — productive crews on large sites can beat the base rate substantially. The Bygningsoverenskomst sets minimum rates; Copenhagen projects generally pay above provincial work, and formwork/concrete carpentry tops the specialisations.
How to read the numbers
The figures are standardised monthly earnings: everything the employer pays (base pay, pension, supplements, holiday pay) converted to full time. That is usually higher than the base salary on a payslip — but it is the honest number for comparing trades. Part-timers are converted to full-time equivalents. All figures are before tax.
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Average salary in Denmark · Trades careers in Denmark · Working in Denmark guide