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.
Also called: Angled Cabinetmaker, Assembler, Cabinet Assembler, Cabinet Builder, Cabinet Designer, Cabinet Door Maker
Median pay
$46,680
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,650 – $63,720
People employed
77,170
Holland code
RCA
Realistic · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 3.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 4.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 5.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 6.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 7.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 8.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What cabinetmakers and bench carpenters do
- 01Verify dimensions or check the quality or fit of pieces to ensure adherence to specifications.
- 02Design furniture, using computer-aided drawing programs.
- 03Produce or assemble components of articles, such as store fixtures, office equipment, cabinets, or high-grade furniture.
- 04Program computers to operate machinery.
- 05Trim, sand, or scrape surfaces or joints to prepare articles for finishing.
- 06Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality product.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Mechanical
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic86% · +37%
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters84% · +10%
- Boilermakers81% · +64%
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic80% · 0%
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing80% · group pay
Change into cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing80% · $46,170
- Upholsterers79% · $46,340
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers76% · $53,750
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic73% · $63,870
Majors that lead here
- Cabinetmaking and Millwork
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.