How much does a cabinetmaker make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical cabinetmaker in the United States makes $46,680 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read a drawing, measure and mark wood, then cut and shape pieces with hand tools or machines. They fit and fasten the parts, check that everything lines up, then add hinges or handles and sand or finish the cabinet.
Did you know? Cabinetmakers may use computer-controlled machines for precise cuts, yet custom cabinets can still need some handwork.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,650 and $63,720How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school, then learn on the job from experienced woodworkers; vocational, math, and computer classes can help. Some employers or unions offer cabinetmaking apprenticeships, and becoming skilled takes months or longer.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, useful skills such as CNC operation, and optional credentials can help cabinetmakers qualify for more advanced work. Pay can also differ by employer or industry, location, how specialized or custom the work is, and the hours or schedule.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($58,680), lowest in Oklahoma ($36,630).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,650 | $46,680 | $63,720 | about 77,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $58,680 | about 2,000 |
| Connecticut | $58,100 | about 740 |
| Massachusetts | $58,040 | about 1,000 |
| New Jersey | $51,760 | about 790 |
| Illinois | $50,160 | about 2,000 |
Official 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. Excludes “Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-7040).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/production/woodworkers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/51-7011.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY