Builder salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a builder is $114,400 per annum, before tax, up $23,600 since 2018.
How you work changes your income more than anything else: a builder employed by a larger firm draws a salary, while a builder running their own business takes a margin on each project, which can be well above that in a strong year and much thinner in a quiet one. Project type and size matter too, with custom homes and commercial work carrying more risk and reward than volume renovations. Registration level and the state you work in also shape what you are allowed to take on.
Roles that pay more than builder
The largest typical pay rise is $80,700 a year, moving into Construction Manager.
- Construction Manager+$80,700/yr
- Building Inspector+$4,200/yr
How to negotiate a higher builder salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time builder salary is $114,400; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Builders are on the skills shortage list for regional areas, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Reading plans and specifications and Project management tend to command a premium over general builder experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Construction Manager pays a typical $80,700 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Builder salary questions
How much do builders earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a builder is $114,400 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is builder pay rising or falling?
The median builder salary is up $23,600 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than builder?
Construction Manager pays a typical $80,700 a year more and draws on similar skills to builder.