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Cabinetmaker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$46,680median pay per year, or $22.44 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,650lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,83025th percentile
  3. $46,680median
  4. $55,76075th percentile
  5. $63,720top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters had a median pay of $46,680 a year in May 2025, a bit under the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to shrink 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2.9%[3]
Openings per year
6,900[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do cabinetmakers make?

The median wage for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters was $46,680 a year, or $22.44 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $48,290 a year, or $23.22 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[2].

Here are the percentiles[5][9]:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[5][9] $35,650 $17.14
25th[5][9] $38,830 $18.67
Median[1] $46,680 $22.44
75th[5][9] $55,760 $26.81
90th[5][9] $63,720 $30.64

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $35,650[5][10]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11]. About 77,170 people held these jobs on a wage or salary basis[12].

Pay by state and city

Delaware had the highest median wage at $60,090, though it had only 60 jobs[13]. New York came next at $58,680, then Connecticut at $58,100 and Massachusetts at $58,040[13]. Oklahoma was the lowest of the 49 states with published data, at $36,630[13].

California had the most jobs (7,360), followed by Indiana (5,980), Texas (5,530), Georgia (3,740) and Florida (3,490)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the highest median at $60,240[15]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont came next at $59,870, then Reno at $59,840[15]. The Los Angeles area had the most jobs (2,630), with a median of $47,960[16].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Delaware[13]$60,09060
New York$58,6802,470
Connecticut$58,100740
Massachusetts$58,0401,440
New Hampshire$57,980190
Vermont$57,620360
Rhode Island$52,80080
New Jersey$51,760790
Illinois$50,1602,350
Arkansas$50,070920
Colorado$49,6101,300
Maryland$49,180610
Hawaii$49,050160
California$49,0307,360
Minnesota$48,7402,340
Washington$48,7101,350
Nebraska$48,600230
Michigan$48,5501,120
Maine$48,150940
Montana$47,920510
Nevada$47,780450
South Carolina$47,680710
Pennsylvania$47,6103,300
Ohio$47,4303,110
New Mexico$47,210170
North Dakota$47,140220
Iowa$47,1101,010
Oregon$46,9102,190
Wisconsin$46,7902,070
Tennessee$46,4401,570
Utah$46,3902,120
Wyoming$46,38090
Florida$46,3603,490
North Carolina$46,0102,900
Missouri$45,9801,690
South Dakota$45,950440
Virginia$45,9102,170
Arizona$45,5801,600
Indiana$45,5505,980
Idaho$44,870970
West Virginia$42,400130
Georgia$42,2803,740
Kansas$41,3501,340
Kentucky$40,440920
Louisiana$39,280470
Mississippi$38,800580
Alabama$38,5501,760
Texas$38,3405,530
Oklahoma$36,6301,020

How to become a cabinetmaker

The usual path is short on formal schooling:

BLS describes the wider woodworker group, not only cabinetmakers[18]. For that group, some entry-level jobs can be learned in a month or less, and becoming fully skilled may take several months to more than a year[19]. Another passage says skilled work often takes several months or years[20].

Some workers train through apprenticeships offered by employers or unions[21]. Employers may prefer candidates with some vocational-technical or college courses[22]. Credentials are not required, but they can show skill and help with advancement[23]. Because CNC machines are common in production, CNC certification may also help. Community colleges and machine makers offer it[24].

Experienced workers may move up to team lead or floor supervisor roles[25].

What cabinetmakers do

Cabinetmakers cut, shape and assemble wooden items, or set up and run woodworking machines to make wood parts[26]. Typical tasks include:

O*NET workers report job titles such as cabinet builder, cabinet installer and cabinet door maker[28].

Where they work

For woodworkers as a group, furniture and related product manufacturing was the largest employer, at 42% of jobs in 2025[29]. In 2025, 6.4% of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters were self-employed[30].

Conditions vary. Workers sometimes handle heavy, bulky material and meet noise and dust, so they often wear hearing protection, safety glasses and respirators[31]. Hazards can also include chemicals and fumes[32]. Common injuries are sprains, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and hernias[33]. Most woodworkers have full-time jobs with regular business hours, and schedules vary for some[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 81,800 to 79,400 jobs[3]. These counts include the self-employed, so they differ from the OEWS count above[12][3]. Across all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth[4].

Jobs still open up. About 6,900 openings are projected each year, on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.1% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that is easy to enter. A high school diploma is the typical education, and training happens on the job[7]. Median pay is a little below the all-occupations median[1][2]. Employment is projected to shrink, though turnover still creates about 6,900 openings a year[3][6]. The work involves heavy materials, noise and dust, and injury risks, so it suits people who are comfortable with that[31][33].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cabinetmaker make an hour?
The median was $22.44 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $18.67 and $26.81 an hour[1][9].
What degree do you need to be a cabinetmaker?
No degree is typical. The usual entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
Are cabinetmakers in demand?
Employment is projected to fall 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, but about 6,900 openings are projected each year from turnover[3][6].
What is the highest paying state for cabinetmakers?
Delaware had the highest median at $60,090, followed by New York at $58,680[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters in the US was $46,680 per year and $22.44 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters is projected to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 81,800 to 79,400 jobs (a change of -2,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: 10th percentile $35,650, 25th percentile $38,830, 75th percentile $55,760, 90th percentile $63,720. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,900 openings for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters was $48,290 per year and $23.22 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: 10th percentile $17.14, 25th percentile $18.67, 75th percentile $26.81, 90th percentile $30.64. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 77,170 people were employed as Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters jobs: California 7,360; Indiana 5,980; Texas 5,530; Georgia 3,740; Florida 3,490. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $60,240; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $59,870; Reno, NV $59,840; Bozeman, MT $59,160; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $59,120; Savannah, GA $58,670; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $58,620; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $56,410. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,630 (median $47,960); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,370 (median $38,760); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,020 (median $60,240); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,950 (median $45,120); Elkhart-Goshen, IN 1,830 (median $46,240); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,420 (median $56,410). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Woodworkers" covers Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 51-7011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Angled Cabinetmaker, Assembler, Cabinet Assembler, Cabinet Builder, Cabinet Door Maker, Cabinet Installer, Cabinetmaker, Double End Tenon Operator. O*NET OnLine
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of woodworkers in 2025: Furniture and related product manufacturing 42%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 6.4% of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: 4.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.