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Cabinetmaking & Millwork

Types of Degrees Cabinetmaking & Millwork Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Cabinetmaking & Millwork may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	132
Associate’s Degree	77
Master’s Degree	255

What Cabinetmaking & Millwork Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Cabinetmaking & Millwork develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Cabinetmaking & Millwork graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Cabinetmaking & Millwork emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mathematics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Design — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Building and Construction — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Cabinetmaking & Millwork program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Operation and Control — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Cabinetmaking & Millwork careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Manual Dexterity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Control Precision — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Cabinetmaking & Millwork graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.2 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	4.0 / 7
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.9 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.8 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.8 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.6 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.5 / 7
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Cabinetmaking & Millwork professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Computer aided design CAD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Dassault Systemes CATIA	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software	Computer aided manufacturing CAM software	—
3D Systems Geomagic Design X	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Delcam PowerMILL	Computer aided manufacturing CAM software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Cabinetmaking & Millwork graduates include:

• Stock Checker
• Patternmaker
• Smoking Pipe Maker
• Wood Ski Maker
• Accordion Maker
• Boat Oar Maker
• Hat Block Maker
• Hand Carver
• Wood Carver
• Tip Inserter
• Last Model Maker
• Framer
• Cabinet Maker
• Router Operator
• Veneer Marker

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Cabinetmaking & Millwork graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	53.9%
Postsecondary certificate	22.5%
Less than a high school diploma	13.5%
Some college courses	6.9%
Bachelor’s degree	3.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Cabinetmaking & Millwork?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 83.8% of Cabinetmaking & Millwork degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	75	16.2%
Men	389	83.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Cabinetmaking & Millwork graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	290	62.5%
Asian	21	4.5%
Hispanic or Latino	76	16.4%
Black or African American	51	11.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native	5	1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.2%
Two or More Races	11	2.4%
Race Unknown	7	1.5%
International Students	2	0.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Cabinetmaking & Millwork Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Cabinetmaking & Millwork graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$28,034
4 years	$43,408
5 years	$46,526

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $46,526 — roughly 66% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Cabinetmaking & Millwork Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Cabinetmaking & Millwork graduates earn a median of $43,408 four years after completion — roughly 14% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Woodworking	48.07
Furniture Design and Manufacturing	48.0702
Wooden Boatbuilding Technology/Technician	48.0704
Woodworking, General	48.0701
Woodworking, Other	48.0799

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.