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. Excludes “Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-7040).
National median · BLS
$46,680
▲ +1.43%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$48,290
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
77,170
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$35,650
25th
$38,830
Median (50th)
$46,680
75th
$55,760
90th — top pay
$63,720
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
BLS projects employment of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 6,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
81,800 → 79,400
-2,400 jobs
Projected change
-2.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
6,900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
6.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What cabinetmakers and bench carpenters do
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.
Also called
Cabinet AssemblerCabinet BuilderCabinetmakerFrame BuilderAngled CabinetmakerAssemblerCabinet Door MakerCabinet InstallerDouble End Tenon OperatorWoodworker
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $46,680.
