SOC 51-7011.00

    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 pay
    $46,680
    Growth
    -2.9%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    6,900
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $35,650
    Median
    $46,680
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $63,720
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    77,170 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters cut, shape, and assemble wooden products and operate woodworking machinery. The career offers a median annual pay of $46,680, with opportunities for hands-on production work.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What cabinetmakers and bench carpenters do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this field focus on realistic, hands-on tasks. Their daily work involves cutting, shaping, and assembling wooden items. They set up and control woodworking machines, such as mortisers, jointers, and power saws, to prepare lumber and fabricate parts. This requires constant operations monitoring and quality control analysis to ensure all pieces meet exact specifications.

    To succeed, workers must handle and move physical objects, inspect materials, and perform general physical activities. They need strong attention to detail, dependability, and cautiousness to operate machinery safely. Communication is also key, as workers regularly share information with supervisors and peers. Solving problems, making decisions, and managing time effectively help keep production on schedule. Workers draw on knowledge of building and construction, mathematics, design, and production processes to turn raw lumber into finished cabinets and furniture.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a high school diploma. The occupation is classified as needing some preparation, meaning most individuals enter the field with a high school education and obtain the necessary skills through on-the-job training or prior work experience.

    Students interested in this path often pursue college majors in woodworking. To demonstrate professional skills, individuals can also seek certifications. Relevant credentials include the Industrial Carpenter certification offered by the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters was $46,680. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $35,650 and the highest 10% earning more than $63,720.

    There are 77,170 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -2.9%. Despite this projected decrease in total jobs, the field still expects about 6,900 openings each year to replace workers who leave the occupation.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    17 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    25 / 100
    Social (S)
    2 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    4 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    40 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCA. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Controlling Machines and Processes
    81
    Handling and Moving Objects
    81
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    74
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    70
    Getting Information
    67
    Performing General Physical Activities
    64
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    63
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    59
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    59
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    59
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Operation and Control
    • Time Management
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Operations Analysis
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking

    Knowledge

    • Building and Construction
    • Mathematics
    • Production and Processing
    • Design
    • Mechanical
    • Administration and Management
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Education and Training
    • Physics
    • English Language

    Abilities

    • Control Precision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Near Vision
    • Visualization
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Trunk Strength
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Auditory Attention

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Perseverance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Innovation
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Angled Cabinetmaker · Assembler · Cabinet Assembler · Cabinet Builder · Cabinet Designer · Cabinet Door Maker · Cabinet Finisher · Cabinet Installer · Cabinet Maker · Cabinet Professional

    Career pathway

    From your interests to cabinetmakers and bench carpenters

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,680 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Rhode Island School of Design RISD logo
      Rhode Island School of Design RISD

      Providence, RI · Woodworking · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $37,055
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What cabinetmakers and bench carpenters may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Cabinetmaking and Millwork

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about cabinetmakers and bench carpenters

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are known by many names depending on their specific duties. Common titles include cabinet assembler, cabinet builder, cabinet designer, cabinet door maker, cabinet finisher, cabinet installer, and cabinet professional.

    What kind of education or training do I need?

    You typically need a high school diploma to enter this field. Most workers learn the necessary skills through on-the-job training and practical experience rather than a four-year college degree.

    What are the main skills required for cabinetmaking?

    Key skills include operation and control of machinery, operations monitoring, and quality control analysis. Workers also need strong judgment, decision-making abilities, and reading comprehension to follow design plans accurately.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.