Life As a Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter
Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter Definition 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.
A Day in the Life of a Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter
- Match materials for color, grain, or texture, giving attention to knots or other features of the wood.
- Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality product.
- Verify dimensions or check the quality or fit of pieces to ensure adherence to specifications.
- Attach parts or subassemblies together to form completed units, using glue, dowels, nails, screws, or clamps.
- Install hardware, such as hinges, handles, catches, or drawer pulls, using hand tools.
- Set up or operate machines, including power saws, jointers, mortisers, tenoners, molders, or shapers, to cut, mold, or shape woodstock or wood substitutes.
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Things a Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter Jobs
- Cabinet Assembler
- Chair Mender
- Hand Violin Maker
- Double End Tenon Operator
- Woodworking Bench Carpenter
What Kind of Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 109,300 jobs in the United States for Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.3% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,500 new jobs for Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 11,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter are Utah, Nevada, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, New Mexico, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter
The typical yearly salary for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters is somewhere between $22,830 and $54,140.

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters who work in Hawaii, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $29,610 |
Alaska | $46,270 |
Arizona | $38,370 |
Arkansas | $29,650 |
California | $37,520 |
Colorado | $36,840 |
Connecticut | $46,210 |
Delaware | $45,300 |
Florida | $37,420 |
Georgia | $35,220 |
Hawaii | $54,100 |
Idaho | $35,520 |
Illinois | $40,320 |
Indiana | $33,990 |
Iowa | $35,770 |
Kansas | $31,970 |
Kentucky | $31,130 |
Louisiana | $32,130 |
Maine | $39,690 |
Maryland | $45,180 |
Massachusetts | $46,200 |
Michigan | $38,770 |
Minnesota | $40,990 |
Mississippi | $26,610 |
Missouri | $34,960 |
Montana | $37,540 |
Nebraska | $39,620 |
Nevada | $37,580 |
New Hampshire | $45,300 |
New Jersey | $44,270 |
New Mexico | $32,210 |
New York | $44,040 |
North Carolina | $30,520 |
North Dakota | $37,870 |
Ohio | $35,580 |
Oklahoma | $32,630 |
Oregon | $35,990 |
Pennsylvania | $39,560 |
Rhode Island | $45,380 |
South Carolina | $35,120 |
South Dakota | $31,700 |
Tennessee | $31,280 |
Texas | $31,850 |
Utah | $35,410 |
Vermont | $39,730 |
Virginia | $36,370 |
Washington | $41,400 |
West Virginia | $32,630 |
Wisconsin | $33,410 |
Wyoming | $41,140 |
What Tools & Technology do Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
Becoming a Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter
Are there Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Cabinetmaker or Bench Carpenter?

Who Employs Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters?

The table below shows the approximate number of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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