Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Mean (average) | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| 90th percentile | $63,720 | $30.64 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,550 | $29,680 | $48,560 | 1,760 | 1.68 |
| Arizona | $45,580 | $37,760 | $59,400 | 1,600 | 0.99 |
| Arkansas | $50,070 | $35,170 | $104,530 | 920 | 1.42 |
| California | $49,030 | $38,740 | $67,780 | 7,360 | 0.81 |
| Colorado | $49,610 | $38,500 | $64,890 | 1,300 | 0.91 |
| Connecticut | $58,100 | $41,310 | $76,690 | 740 | 0.88 |
| Delaware | $60,090 | $31,200 | $70,110 | 60 | 0.25 |
| Florida | $46,360 | $36,650 | $61,940 | 3,490 | 0.71 |
| Georgia | $42,280 | $30,930 | $58,610 | 3,740 | 1.54 |
| Hawaii | $49,050 | $36,070 | $70,160 | 160 | 0.51 |
| Idaho | $44,870 | $36,470 | $61,510 | 970 | 2.29 |
| Illinois | $50,160 | $36,360 | $71,330 | 2,350 | 0.78 |
| Indiana | $45,550 | $29,700 | $57,980 | 5,980 | 3.77 |
| Iowa | $47,110 | $38,410 | $60,370 | 1,010 | 1.31 |
| Kansas | $41,350 | $36,970 | $53,040 | 1,340 | 1.88 |
| Kentucky | $40,440 | $34,600 | $59,530 | 920 | 0.92 |
| Louisiana | $39,280 | $29,910 | $52,130 | 470 | 0.49 |
| Maine | $48,150 | $36,540 | $61,290 | 940 | 2.96 |
| Maryland | $49,180 | $33,430 | $68,020 | 610 | 0.45 |
| Massachusetts | $58,040 | $42,120 | $79,860 | 1,440 | 0.8 |
| Michigan | $48,550 | $39,810 | $64,420 | 1,120 | 0.51 |
| Minnesota | $48,740 | $38,960 | $63,310 | 2,340 | 1.6 |
| Mississippi | $38,800 | $23,750 | $61,790 | 580 | 1.01 |
| Missouri | $45,980 | $35,310 | $58,580 | 1,690 | 1.16 |
| Montana | $47,920 | $37,800 | $62,240 | 510 | 2.01 |
| Nebraska | $48,600 | $37,210 | $64,780 | 230 | 0.45 |
| Nevada | $47,780 | $36,400 | $74,460 | 450 | 0.58 |
| New Hampshire | $57,980 | $39,470 | $72,540 | 190 | 0.57 |
| New Jersey | $51,760 | $38,090 | $76,670 | 790 | 0.37 |
| New Mexico | $47,210 | $40,200 | $59,470 | 170 | 0.4 |
| New York | $58,680 | $44,440 | $79,640 | 2,470 | 0.51 |
| North Carolina | $46,010 | $34,850 | $58,410 | 2,900 | 1.18 |
| North Dakota | $47,140 | $38,380 | $61,960 | 220 | 1.02 |
| Ohio | $47,430 | $35,560 | $58,960 | 3,110 | 1.13 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | $28,580 | $59,960 | 1,020 | 1.2 |
| Oregon | $46,910 | $36,610 | $58,660 | 2,190 | 2.25 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,610 | $37,540 | $63,610 | 3,300 | 1.1 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,530 | $21,840 | $37,620 | 570 | 1.23 |
| Rhode Island | $52,800 | $40,740 | $74,730 | 80 | 0.34 |
| South Carolina | $47,680 | $34,320 | $61,350 | 710 | 0.62 |
| South Dakota | $45,950 | $36,670 | $57,640 | 440 | 1.94 |
| Tennessee | $46,440 | $35,780 | $62,400 | 1,570 | 0.97 |
| Texas | $38,340 | $28,700 | $53,210 | 5,530 | 0.79 |
| Utah | $46,390 | $35,000 | $61,120 | 2,120 | 2.46 |
| Vermont | $57,620 | $44,720 | $78,800 | 360 | 2.36 |
| Virginia | $45,910 | $33,280 | $63,800 | 2,170 | 1.06 |
| Washington | $48,710 | $39,590 | $66,570 | 1,350 | 0.77 |
| West Virginia | $42,400 | $33,000 | $48,440 | 130 | 0.38 |
| Wisconsin | $46,790 | $38,390 | $61,040 | 2,070 | 1.42 |
| Wyoming | $46,380 | $35,230 | $58,240 | 90 | 0.67 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 6.4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Cabinetmaking and Millwork CIP 48.0703
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Trim, sand, or scrape surfaces or joints to prepare articles for finishing.
- Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality product.
- Cut timber to the right size, and shape and trim parts of joints to ensure a snug fit, using hand tools, such as planes, chisels, or wood files.
- Match materials for color, grain, or texture, giving attention to knots or other features of the wood.
- 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.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Computer estimation software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Angled Cabinetmaker, Assembler, Cabinet Assembler, Cabinet Builder, Cabinet Door Maker, Cabinet Installer, Cabinetmaker, Double End Tenon Operator, Frame Builder, Woodworker.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cabinetmakers and bench carpenters make?
The national median annual wage for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters was $46,680 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,650 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $63,720. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cabinetmakers and bench carpenters need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cabinetmakers and bench carpenters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters to change -2.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cabinetmakers and bench carpenters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Delaware ($60,090), New York ($58,680), Connecticut ($58,100). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.