Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Cabinetmakers And Bench Carpenters
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.
Salary
$38900
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Average
Personality
The Builder
Interest Match
Math
Overview
Salary
Requirements
Quiz
Table of contents
- What they do
- What is the job like
- How much do they make
- Where can they work
- What is the work day like
- What is the work environment like
- How to become one
- Should you become one
What they do
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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpentersestablish the specifications of articles to be constructed or repaired or plan the methods or operations for shaping or assembling parts, based on blueprints, drawings, diagrams, or oral or written instructions.Theytrim, sand, or scrape surfaces or joints to prepare articles for finishing.
A typical day for a Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter will also include:
- Attach parts or subassemblies together to form completed units, using glue, dowels, nails, screws, or clamps.
- Match materials for color, grain, or texture, giving attention to knots or other features of the wood.
- Cut timber to the right size and shape and trim parts of joints to ensure a snug fit, using hand tools, such as planes, chisels, or wood files.
- Set up or operate machines, including power saws, jointers, mortisers, tenoners, molders, or shapers, to cut, mold, or shape Woodstock or wood substitutes.
- Estimate the amounts, types, or costs of needed materials.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters also program computers to operate machinery. They may also design furniture, using computer-aided drawing programs.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpentersdraw up detailed specifications and discuss projects with customers.They might alsoinstall hardware, such as hinges, handles, catches, or drawer pulls, using hand tools.
In addition, theyperform final touch-ups with sandpaper or steel wool.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them boreholes for insertion of screws or dowels, by hand or using boring machines.
To some Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters, it is also their responsibility torepair or alter wooden furniture, cabinetry, fixtures, paneling, or other pieces.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Low
Is this job meaningful
Low
59% said they were satisfied with their job and 37% said they found their job meaningful.
Jeremy Boulanger
Boulanger Construction
Our typical day falls into one of two categories: Project Construction and Project Installation. Either day usually begins with a brief meeting to discuss the goals and components involved in that day’s work and any particular problems or constraints that may be encountered throughout the day. One of the greatest aspects of a creative trade … Read More
Sunny Wood
A Cabinetmaker carpenter and a Benchmaker carpenter are very similar to each other. You can say both professionals are the same. So, the person who cut, shape, and assemble wooden articles and setting up by using or applying woodworking machines (e.g. power saw, wood grill machine, nail gun, jointer, and mortises to surface) and hand … Read More
Nick Zargari
Marquis Fine Cabinetry
My name is Nick Zargari and I am the owner of Marquis Fine Cabinetry, a custom cabinetry manufacturer along the Emerald Coast. Since Marquis has been in business for a little over 25 years, we have our daily routine down pretty well. We have a project manager assigned to each day and any leads that … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Demand for this career is growing.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
$38900 per year
Average hourly wage
$19 per hour
Entry-level Cabinetmakers And Bench Carpenters with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $25,310 to $29,530 per year or $12 to $14 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $57,460 | $28 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $46,500 | $22 |
Median | $36,710 | $18 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $29,530 | $14 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $25,310 | $12 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Cabinetmakers And Bench Carpenters based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Federal Executive Branch | $56790 | $27.30 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $52830 | $25.40 |
Local Government | $50950 | $24.49 |
Elementary and Secondary Schools | $49990 | $24.03 |
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $48040 | $23.10 |
Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $46270 | $22.25 |
Specialized Design Services | $46170 | $22.20 |
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $45930 | $22.08 |
Warehousing and Storage | $45520 | $21.89 |
Home Furnishings Stores | $44560 | $21.42 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Cabinetmakers And Bench Carpenters work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Cabinetmakers And Bench Carpenters including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 63270 | $38480 | $18.50 |
Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 9900 | $36980 | $17.78 |
Building Finishing Contractors | 6620 | $41620 | $20.01 |
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 2320 | $38890 | $18.70 |
Residential Building Construction | 1780 | $44310 | $21.30 |
Employment Services | 1420 | $35800 | $17.21 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 1050 | $34770 | $16.72 |
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 450 | $32280 | $15.52 |
Nonresidential Building Construction | 440 | $41800 | $20.10 |
Furniture Stores | 400 | $40500 | $19.47 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Less than 40 hours
10%
40 hours
51%
More than 40 hours
39%
Working schedule
Regular
57%
Irregular
43%
Seasonal
0%
How often do you use email in this job?
Once a week
0%
Every day
0%
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Once a week
9%
Every day
36%
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Once a week
5%
Every day
91%
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Never
82%
Once a year
15%
Once a month
1%
Once a week
0%
Every day
1%
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
Not competitive at all
19%
Slightly competitive
12%
Moderately competitive
29%
Highly competitive
26%
Extremely competitive
13%
Freedom to make decisions
How much decision making freedom does this job offer?
No freedom
3%
Very little freedom
15%
Limited freedom
13%
Some freedom
51%
A lot of freedom
17%
Structured vs unstructured work
To what extent is this job structured for you versus allowing you to determine your own tasks, priorities, and goals?
No freedom
4%
Very little freedom
0%
Limited freedom
50%
Some freedom
29%
A lot of freedom
18%
Repetition in this job
How important is repeating the same type of task over and over in this job?
Not important at all
19%
Fairly important
10%
Important
57%
Very Important
12%
Extremely Important
1%
Work with group or team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Not important at all
3%
Fairly important
13%
Important
26%
Very important
9%
Extremely important
48%
Deal with external customers
How important is it to work with customers in this job?
Not important at all
25%
Fairly important
8%
Important
26%
Very important
0%
Extremely important
41%
Manage or lead others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in completing work activities in this job?
Not important at all
4%
Fairly important
17%
Important
33%
Very important
28%
Extremely important
18%
Frequency of conflict situations
How often are there conflict situations in this job?
Never
25%
Once a year
35%
Once a month
27%
Once a week
12%
Every day
0%
Dealing with angry people
How often do you have to deal with angry, unpleasant, or discourteous individuals in this job?
Never
29%
Once a year
10%
Once a month
14%
Once a week
1%
Every day
46%
Dealing with physically aggressive people
How often do you have to deal with physically aggressive people in this job?
Never
100%
Once a year
0%
Once a month
0%
Once a week
0%
Every day
0%
Impact of decisions on co-workers or company results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the reputation or financial resources of your employer?
No impact
7%
Minor impact
7%
Moderate impact
18%
Important impact
38%
Very important impact
30%
Frequency of decision making
How frequently do you have to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the reputation of the company?
Never
22%
Once a year
4%
Once a month
1%
Once a week
38%
Every day
35%
Responsibility for others’ health and safety
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
No responsibility
13%
Limited responsibility
13%
Moderate responsibility
27%
High responsibility
16%
Very high responsibility
31%
Responsibility for outcomes and results
How much responsibility is there for the work outcomes and results of other workers?
No responsibility
33%
Limited responsibility
19%
Moderate responsibility
26%
High responsibility
8%
Very high responsibility
13%
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Never
35%
Once a year or more
25%
Once a month or more
5%
Once a week or more
24%
Every day
12%
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Never
7%
Once a year or more
0%
Once a month or more
0%
Once a week or more
31%
Every day
63%
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Never
75%
Once a year or more
0%
Once a month or more
1%
Once a week or more
12%
Every day
12%
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
Never
75%
Once a year or more
0%
Once a month or more
13%
Once a week or more
0%
Every day
12%
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Less than a High School Diploma
11%
High School Diploma or equivalent
62%
Post-Secondary Certificate
27%
Some College Courses
0%
Associate’s Degree or similar
0%
Bachelor’s Degree
0%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%
Master’s Degree
0%
Post-Master’s Certificate
0%
First Professional Degree
0%
Doctoral Degree
0%
Post-Doctoral Training
0%
Relevant majors
Cabinetmaking and Millwork
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, operate and repair industrial woodworking machinery, and to use such machinery to design and fabricate wooden components and complete articles.
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
None
0%
1 month
4%
1 to 3 months
0%
3 to 6 months
26%
6 months to 1 year
6%
1 to 2 years
9%
2 to 4 years
32%
4 to 6 years
0%
6 to 8 years
1%
8 to 10 years
0%
Over 10 years
22%
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
None or short demonstration
4%
1 month
0%
1 to 3 months
33%
3 to 6 months
25%
6 months to 1 year
22%
1 to 2 years
9%
2 to 4 years
6%
4 to 10 years
1%
Over 10 years
0%
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
The Builder
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
The Builder
100%
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
The Thinker
14%
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
The Artist
29%
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
The Helper
14%
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
The Leader
29%
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
The Organizer
38%
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend 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.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
Achievement
48%
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
Working Conditions
45%
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
Recognition
38%
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
Relationships
62%
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
Support
52%
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
Independence
48%
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
FAQ
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