Construction role landing page
Formwork Carpenter (Schalungszimmerer)
Build and assemble formwork systems (PERI / DOKA) for concrete structures on Germany-based projects.
This page describes practical requirements, pay logic (gross), and what “English-speaking onboarding” looks like on site.
Gross pay guide
€16.00–€23.00/hour*
Role & experience dependent
Minimum wage (DE)
€13.90/hour gross
From 01 Jan 2026
Locations
Berlin • Hamburg • Munich • NRW
Project-based allocation
Application rule
CV required
No CV — no review
CV is mandatory for screening.
*Pay shown is a practical hiring range used for planning and is always discussed before start. All rates on this page are gross (brutto).
Your pay will never be below Germany’s statutory minimum wage.
Short candidate portrait
Who typically succeeds in this role
- Has hands-on formwork experience (walls/slabs/columns) and understands the concrete pour cycle.
- Can work cleanly to tolerance: plumb, level, align, brace — then verify before the pour.
- Knows common systems (PERI / DOKA) or learns fast and follows the foreman’s method.
- Is reliable on safety: PPE, access rules, lifting discipline, tidy work area.
- Communicates in simple English on site; basic German (A1–A2) is a strong advantage for safety briefings.
PERI / DOKA
Walls • Slabs • Columns
Tolerance & quality
Safety-first
Work model (Polish employer → Germany)
What “working via a Polish company” usually means
Many projects operate in a posted-worker format: you are employed by a Polish entity and temporarily assigned to perform work on a German site.
This requires disciplined documentation and clear payroll rules — especially for construction.
- Gross pay clarity: your hourly rate is agreed in advance and confirmed before you start.
- Germany rules apply on site: safety induction, PPE, access permits, and site-specific standards.
- Documentation discipline: you must carry key documents and keep your CV and project history consistent.
- Minimum wage compliance: your gross pay is never below the German statutory minimum wage.
This is general operational information, not legal advice. Final conditions depend on the project, your experience, and the client’s site rules.
Role requirements
Detailed requirements (what we actually check)
- Formwork experience: panels, beams, connectors, braces, clamps, ties/anchors; ability to strip and reset efficiently.
- Reading instructions: drawings, layout marks, levels, and foreman’s sequence.
- Quality mindset: verify alignment and stability before concrete placement; keep surfaces clean and prepared.
- Tools: confident with common hand/power tools; correct torque/fastening habits (site standard).
- Safety: PPE compliance, housekeeping, safe lifting; readiness for German site checks.
- Teamwork: coordinate with rebar crew, crane/telehandler operations (when present), and concreting team.
Helpful extras: photos of past work, a short list of projects (country/city, dates, tasks, systems used), and certificates (if any).
How the work runs
A typical day on a concrete cycle
- Site briefing → safety and sequence (English onboarding available on many teams).
- Set-out checks → levels, edges, openings; prepare panels/beam formwork.
- Assemble and brace → plumb/level/alignment verification.
- Pre-pour control → final checks, release agent, cleanliness, access paths.
- After pour → stripping schedule, cleaning, stacking, and preparation for the next section.
Reality: speed matters, but stable formwork and clean checks matter more.
How the work runs
What the foreman expects from a strong formwork carpenter
- Predictable output: panels assembled correctly the first time, minimal rework.
- Clean logistics: material staged, tools ready, access kept safe and clear.
- Fast corrections: fix alignment early, not after concrete placement.
- Respect the pour: stability and tolerance before speed.
If you can explain your last two projects clearly, you are already ahead.
How the work runs
Common tasks you will be assigned
Assembly
Walls / slabs / columns
PERI / DOKA
Checks
Plumb • level • brace
Tolerance discipline
Pre-pour
Openings • edges • access
Coordination
After pour
Strip • clean • reset
Keep systems in shape
Good carpenters protect the system: clean panels and correct storage reduce downtime.
Vacancy story (anti-template)
Why this role exists on German projects
On many commercial builds, the concrete schedule is tight and the formwork crew is the tempo-setter.
The client wants predictable cycles: set-out, assemble, verify, pour, strip, reset — without surprises.
That is why we screen for discipline and clarity, not only speed.
Tip: in your CV, add 5–7 lines called “Formwork systems & tasks” (PERI/DOKA, wall/slab, columns, cores, stripping, alignment checks).
This single block improves match accuracy significantly.