Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters work in a craft-oriented trade focused on building and shaping wood products. National employment stands at 86,000, indicating a modest-sized field with a defined niche in the broader production and construction landscape. The career typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to people who want to enter the workforce without a lengthy academic path. Success in this occupation draws on fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and strong attention to detail, supported by mathematics, mechanical abilities, and critical and analytical thinking. Creativity and innovation, along with customer service skills, can also play an important role in how work is carried out and delivered. While projected employment growth is slightly negative, at -1.6%, there are still 8,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. For individuals drawn to hands-on work, precision, and craftsmanship, this role can offer a stable, skills-based career path.
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters have a national median annual salary of $46,020. Pay levels vary across states and metro areas. Among states with strong opportunity scores, New York shows a median salary of $58,680 and Massachusetts is close behind at $58,040. California, Colorado, and Washington offer median salaries between roughly $48,700 and $49,600, positioning them in a similar range. At the metro level, several areas report higher median pay. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro has a median salary of $60,240, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont reports $59,870 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton shows $59,120. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro pays a median of $58,620. These figures indicate that certain large metro areas and specific states may offer higher earning potential compared with the national median, which can be an important consideration when evaluating where to build a career in this trade.
Nationally, cabinetmakers and bench carpenters account for 86,000 jobs. Projected employment growth is -1.6%, indicating a slight decline rather than expansion over the projection period. Even with this negative growth rate, the occupation is expected to have 8,000 annual openings. These openings are likely connected to ongoing workforce needs such as replacement of workers who retire or leave the occupation. The combination of a modest employment base and continued annual openings suggests that opportunities will remain available, but job seekers should be prepared for a relatively stable or slightly contracting market overall. When planning a career in this field, it can be helpful to consider both the national employment level and projected trend together with local conditions, since some states and metro areas show stronger opportunity scores and higher median salaries even within the context of a small overall decline in employment.
Location makes a noticeable difference for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York post the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, at 67.38, 65.87, and 65.78 respectively. These states also show comparatively higher median salaries, with New York at $58,680 and Massachusetts at $58,040, while California offers $49,030. Colorado and Washington feature mid–50s opportunity scores and median salaries around the upper $40,000s, with employment in the 1,300–1,350 range. At the metro level, differences are even more pronounced. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and New York-Newark-Jersey City metros lead on opportunity score, both above 77, paired with median salaries above $58,000 and $60,000 respectively. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also combine higher median pay with solid opportunity scores. For those open to relocation, focusing on these higher-scoring states and metros can influence both earnings and overall opportunity in this occupation.
The typical education requirement for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters is a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make this career path attainable without advanced degrees. However, success in the role depends heavily on a well-rounded skill set. Fine motor skills and physical strength and stamina are central to performing the hands-on, often physically demanding work. Mathematics and mechanical skills help support accurate measurements, layouts, and problem-solving. Critical and analytical thinking, along with creativity and innovation, contribute to tackling challenges and refining work quality. Customer service skills are also important where the role involves interacting with clients or meeting specific preferences. Being detail oriented is essential to producing precise, high-quality results, while project management skills support planning, organizing, and completing work efficiently. Together, these skills complement the baseline educational requirement and define the professional profile of a successful cabinetmaker or bench carpenter.
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