Jobs Similar to Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to cabinetmakers and bench carpenters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Model Makers (Wood), Layout Workers and Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing.
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: $46,680 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Model Makers, Wood
79% similar · $56,550 (+21%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $63,870 (+37%) · High school
- 3Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
79% similar · $43,380 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 4Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
78% similar · $53,750 (+15%) · High school
- 5Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $63,340 (+36%) · Training or associate
- 6Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $52,800 (+13%) · High school
- 7Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
78% similar · $42,770 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 8Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $38,760 (−17%) · High school
- 9Patternmakers, Wood
78% similar · $49,630 (+6%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
77% similar · $51,330 (+10%) · High school
- 11Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $46,330 (−1%) · High school
- 12Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $49,080 (+5%) · High school
- 13Boilermakers
77% similar · $76,410 (+64%) · High school
- 14Riggers
77% similar · $62,640 (+34%) · High school
- 15Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
76% similar · $44,350 (−5%) · High school
- 16Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
76% similar · $46,550 (0%) · High school
- 17Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
76% similar · $47,920 (+3%) · High school
- 18Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
76% similar · $76,170 (+63%) · High school
- 19Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
76% similar · $47,550 (+2%) · High school
- 20Foundry Mold and Coremakers
76% similar · $48,110 (+3%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than cabinetmakers and bench carpenters.
- Boilermakers77% similar · $76,410 (+64%)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers76% similar · $76,170 (+63%)
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic79% similar · $63,870 (+37%)
- Riggers77% similar · $62,640 (+34%)
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers78% similar · $53,750 (+15%)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic78% similar · $52,800 (+13%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where cabinetmakers and bench carpenters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
What jobs are most similar to cabinetmakers and bench carpenters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Model Makers (Wood) (79% similar), Layout Workers (79% similar), Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (79% similar), Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (78% similar) and Model Makers (Metal and Plastic) (78% similar).
Which jobs like cabinetmakers and bench carpenters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Boilermakers ($76,410, +64%; usually a high school diploma), Terrazzo Workers and Finishers ($76,170, +63%; usually a high school diploma) and Layout Workers ($63,870, +37%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with cabinetmakers and bench carpenters ($46,680). Without more preparation than cabinetmakers and bench carpenters usually need: Boilermakers, Terrazzo Workers and Finishers and Layout Workers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.