← All careers

Skilled Trades

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

Cut, shape, and assemble wooden articles or set up and operate a variety of woodworking machines, such as power saws, jointers, and mortisers to surface, cut, or shape lumber or to fabricate parts for wood products.

Median salary (BLS)

$46,680

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$36k – $64k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

    Entry / Junior

    $35,650

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

    Established

    $46,680

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

    Senior

    $55,200

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Verify dimensions or check the quality or fit of pieces to ensure adherence to specifications.
  • •Produce or assemble components of articles, such as store fixtures, office equipment, cabinets, or high-grade furniture.
  • •Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality product.
  • •Set up or operate machines, including power saws, jointers, mortisers, tenoners, molders, or shapers, to cut, mold, or shape woodstock or wood substitutes.
  • •Establish the specifications of articles to be constructed or repaired, or plan the methods or operations for shaping or assembling parts, based on blueprints, drawings, diagrams, or oral or written instructions.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.