Job description

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters 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.

• 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.
• Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality product.
• 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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Salary

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters with little to no experience tend to make between $22830 and $27590 while the more experienced ones can earn over $43650 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter is to move to a higher paying state like HI. Right now, the highest paying states for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters are HI, AK, CT, MA and RI.

However, a higher pay at HI doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at HI might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

Requirements

We asked other Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by a Post-Secondary Certificate.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter.

What is the job like

59% of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters said they were satisfied with their job and 37% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Is this right for me

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

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